Tobacco smoking in Democratic Republic of Congo
Data sourced:
2022.
Page updated:
2025-02-10
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the prevalence of tobacco smoking among adults aged 15 years and older was reported to be 8.3% by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2022. This percentage represents a slight decline from 8.6% in 2020. Tobacco smoking prevalence was significantly higher among males, at 16.4%, compared to 0.6% among females in 2022. Additionally, the number of smokers aged 15 years and older was estimated to be approximately 4.1 million in 2022, reflecting an increase from about 3.9 million in 2020. For reference, the adult daily tobacco smoking prevalence in 2017 was 26.5% among males and 4.1% among females.
In terms of mortalities, the annual number of deaths attributable to tobacco smoking in 2021 was recorded at 15,232, with males accounting for a higher proportion of these deaths (12,180) compared to females (3,052). Smoking-related mortality represented 2.18% of all deaths in the country. This demonstrates a decrease from 4.19% in 2016. These figures show the ongoing public health challenge caused by tobacco smoking in the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly among males, and highlights the need for continued monitoring and intervention efforts to mitigate the health impacts associated with tobacco smoking.
Prevalence
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2020
|
4.0 million |
1A
|
2022
|
4.1 million |
1B
A
|
Comments:
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
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/
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2020
|
8.6% |
2A
|
2022
|
8.3% |
2B
A
|
Comments:
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2020
|
0.6% |
2A
|
2022
|
0.6% |
2B
A
|
Comments:
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2020
|
16.7% |
2A
|
2022
|
16.4% |
2B
A
|
Comments:
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
Comments:
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
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/
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
- Data differs from WHO age standardised estimates. Source:�Demographic and Health Survey, 2013-14; National, ages 15-49. All 'current' tobacco use reported in lieu of tobacco smoking data.
Smoking-related mortality
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2016
|
22.6 thousand |
1A
|
2021
|
15.2 thousand |
1B
A
|
Comments:
- Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2016
|
5.4 thousand |
1A
|
2021
|
3.1 thousand |
1B
A
|
Comments:
- Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2016
|
17.2 thousand |
1A
|
2021
|
12.2 thousand |
1B
A
|
Comments:
- Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2016
|
4.19% |
1A
|
2021
|
2.18% |
1B
A
|
Comments:
- Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2016
|
1.6% |
1A
|
2021
|
0.98% |
1B
A
|
Comments:
- Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2016
|
5% |
1A
|
2021
|
3.15% |
1B
A
|
Comments:
- Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Comments:
- Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
- Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
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.