Tobacco smoking in Congo

In Congo, smoking is allowed but tobacco products including cigarettes should follow certain regulations. Under these regulatory frameworks, cigarettes are allowed for sale and smoke; however, they cannot be legally purchased online or through vending machines. The importation of cigarettes for trade is allowed with an appropriate license. Moreover, health warnings on cigarette packaging are required, and the minimum legal age for their purchase is 18 years. Additionally, there are legal restrictions on smoking in public places, such as healthcare and educational facilities. A comprehensive ban on all forms of tobacco advertising is also enforced, and cigarettes are subject to a total taxation rate of 24.87% without any excise tax.

Tobacco smoking remains a significant public health issue in Congo. Data show that, the current prevalence of tobacco smoking among people aged 15 years and older was estimated to be 15.2% as of 2024, with a notable gender disparity: 29.4% among males and only 1.2% among females. This marks an decrease from 2020, when the adult male current smoking prevalence was 26.9%. The number of tobacco smokers in 2024 was estimated to be approximately 550,000 individuals, an increase from 430,167 smokers in 2020. For reference, the adult daily tobacco smoking prevalence in 2017 was 17.4%, with a daily prevelance of 33.8% among males and a daily prevalence of 1.1% among females.

Smoking-related mortality also presents a concerning trend in Congo. In 2021, tobacco smoking contributed to 3.51% of all deaths in the country, corresponding to 1,625 deaths, including 1,362 male deaths and 263 female deaths. These data highlight the ongoing health challenges posed by tobacco smoking in Congo and underscore the need for effective public health interventions to address this issue.