18.8% of the adult population are daily smokers
There are approximately 3,024 daily smokers in Cook Islands
23.3% of men are daily smokers but only 14.6% of women
Country profile
Data sourced:
2025.
Page updated:
2026-08-10
Smoking in Cook Islands
Current smoking trends for the overall adult population in the Cook Islands show a decrease from 2000 (49%) to 2015 (27%), with a projection to decrease further to 18% by 2025. For women there has been a downwards year by year trend in smoking prevalence, from 44% in 2000 to 22% in 2015, and projected to be around 14% by 2025. For men the trend has also been downwards, with 54.5% being current smokers in 2000, 31% in 2015 and a projection to decrease further to around 22% 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.
20
Deaths
20 people die every year due to tobacco smoking in Cook Islands.
26.2%
tobacco smoking
In Cook Islands, Cigarettes use reached 26.2% in 2024, a figure that points to an increase awareness and accessibility of such products.
Nicotine Vaping Devices
in Cook Islands
There is no information about regulations for e-cigarettes available. If you have an update please email the GSTHR team.
Heated Tobacco Products
in Cook Islands
Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) are regulated as tobacco products in Cook Islands and are legal for sale and use. However, the law requires mandatory health warnings on the packaging of these products and imposes certain restrictions on their flavours and use in public places. The minimum legal age for their sale or purchase is 18 years.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in Cook Islands
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is legally allowed in Cook Islands, including the sale and use of its products without a prescription. NRT products are available in pharmacies. Although NRT products are not included on the country’s essential drugs list, the government provides full financial support for NRT.
Snus
in Cook Islands
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 Cook Islands
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.