Profile
Botswana Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Botswana Background
Profile
Botswana Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Data sourced: 2023.   Page updated: 2025-06-19

In 2017, there were approximately 60,300 current users of traditional smokeless tobacco in Botswana. The overall prevalence of current use among adults was 4.3 percent, with 6.3 percent among females and 2.1 percent among males. Daily use prevalence was 3.1 percent overall, including 4.5 percent among females and 1.6 percent among males. Traditional smokeless tobacco is allowed and regulated as a tobacco product in Botswana. It is legal to use, sell, and purchase the product. The minimum legal age for sales is 18 years. However, health warnings on packaging are not required.

Prevalence

References:
  1. 1. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-bwa.pdf?sfvrsn=4f687158_3&download=true. Accessed: 19 May 2025. 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-bwa.pdf?sfvrsn=4f687158_3&download=true. Accessed: 19 May 2025.
Comments:
  1. Adults survey: Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), 2017; National, ages 15+ World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. Adults survey: Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), 2017; National, ages 15+

Product promotion

References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Botswana. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/botswana/sales-restrictions. Accessed: 23 May 2025.

Regulation

References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Botswana. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/botswana/sales-restrictions. Accessed: 23 May 2025.

Availability

References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Botswana. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/botswana/sales-restrictions. Accessed: 23 May 2025.

Regulations and restrictions

References:
  1. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-bwa.pdf?sfvrsn=4f687158_3&download=true. Accessed: 19 May 2025.
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.