City with Modern Infrastructure in Botswana

14.4% of the adult population are current smokers

There are approximately 218,774 current smokers in Botswana

26.5% of men are current smokers but only 3.6% of women

Quick links to detailed datasheets for Botswana
Country profile
Data sourced: 2022.   Page updated: 2023-10-10

Smoking in Botswana

Current smoking trends for the overall adult population in Botswa show a slight increase from 2000 (19.4%) to 2015 (19.8%), with a projection to increase further to around 21% by 2025. For women there has been a gradual, downwards year by year trend, from 7.6% in 2000 to 5.5% in 2015, and projected to be around 4.6% by 2025. For men the trend goes in the opposite direction, with 31.5% being current smokers in 2000, 34% in 2015 and a projection of around 37% by 2025. The WHO published prevalence trend estimates in tobacco smoking, as shown here, in their 2018 2nd edition report, which show slightly different smoking prevalence to the WHO country profiles. Data for the estimates are not age standardised, and were obtained from WHO databases. The trend lines are projections, not predictions, of future attainment. A projection indicates a likely endpoint if the country maintains its tobacco control efforts at the same level that it has implemented them to date. Therefore the impact of recent interventions could alter the expected endpoint shown in the projection. While the methods of estimation used in the first and second editions of the WHO report are the same, the volume of data available for the second edition is larger i.e. 200 more national surveys. The results presented are therefore more robust.

1,551

Deaths

1551 people die every year due to tobacco smoking in Botswana.

Nicotine Vaping Devices

in Botswana

There is no specific law regarding e-cigarettes. If you have an update please e-mail the GSTHR team.

Heated Tobacco Products

in Botswana

You can't advertise HTP in Botswana.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

in Botswana

In Botswana it is illegal to sell nicotine for using NRT.

Snus

in Botswana

Use of Snus is permitted by law in Botswana.

The GSTHR database is updated regularly by our team. However, please be aware that the information we provide does not constitute legal advice. We cannot guarantee that the information is up to date or accurate, as the regulatory status of different product categories can change at short notice and with little publicity. If you wish to check the legal status of use or possession of any safer nicotine product in a specific country or region, you should verify the information independently. If you have reason to think that the information supplied on the GSTHR is inaccurate, please contact us with details and any references and we will rectify any errors.