Top Stories from China
24.4% of the adult population are current smokers
There are approximately 288.3 million current smokers in China
46.4% of men are current smokers but only 1.9% of women
Country profile
Data sourced:
2025.
Page updated:
2026-07-01
Smoking in China
Current smoking prevalence in the general population in China has been decreasing in recent years. In 2000 around 30% of the population were current smokers; this decreased to 27% in 2015 and a further decrease to 25% is projected according to WHO trend estimates. Prevalence of smoking in men is high - in 2000 it was 56.5%; this decreased to 51% in 2015 and is projected to decrease to around 47% by 2025. For women the current smoking prevalence was only 3% in 2000, dropping to 2.5% in 2015 and projected to decrease to 2% 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.
2,667,104
Deaths
In China, 2.7 million people die each year due to tobacco smoking.
0.7%
e-cigarette vaping
Adult e-cigarette vaping prevalence is 0.7%.
Nicotine Vaping Devices
in China
Import, export, sale, possession and use of e-cigarettes in mainland China is legal. Vaping is common in larger cities although local laws introduced in certain places like Shanghai, or Shenzhen for example, prohibit vaping in non-smoking areas. Sales of e-cigarettes are banned in Macau but it is still legal to vape. There are a range of public places in which vaping is banned regardless of whether the person is vaping nicotine or not, and fines of around $190 exist for flouting these restrictions. In May 2019, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) announced China had drawn up standards for regulating e-cigarettes and had filed them with the WTO, without specifying any date for adoption of these rules as yet. The standards specify the terms and definitions, technical requirements, test methods, packaging, identification, instructions, storage and transportation of electronic cigarettes.
Heated Tobacco Products
in China
Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) are banned by law in China.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in China
In China, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is legally allowed, and no prescription is required to purchase NRT products, which can be found in pharmacies. The government does not cover NRT cost as these products are not included on the country's essential drugs list.
Snus
in China
Used in Scandinavia for more than 200 years, snus is providing smokers in Sweden and Norway with an alternative to combustible cigarettes. Find out what it is, and why it is considered a safer nicotine product in our briefing paper.
Pouches
in China
Nicotine pouches are a relatively new product which can provide users of high-risk tobacco with an alternative that poses fewer risks to their health. Read more about nicotine pouches in our briefing paper
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.