Data sourced:
2024.
Page updated:
2025-12-11
In Cabo Verde, smoking is legal but subject to certain regulations. Under this regulatory framework, cigarettes are allowed for sale and use and can be legally purchased in stores, online, and through vending machines. The importation of cigarettes for trade is also allowed with a license. Health warnings on cigarette packaging are required, the minimum legal age for their purchase is 18 years, and there are legal restrictions on smoking in public places, such as healthcare and educational facilities. Cigarettes are subject to a specific excise tax of 23.33% and a total taxation rate of 30.19%.
The current prevalence of tobacco smoking among adults aged 15 years and older as of 2024 was estimated to be 7.3% in Cabo Verde. This figure shows a decline from the 7.7% recorded in 2020. The current prevalence of smoking among adult males in 2024 was 11.9% and among females it was 2.6%. The total number of tobacco smokers in 2024 was approximately 28,000, which shows a slight decrease from 30,021 in 2020.
In terms of health impact, deaths due to smoking made 3.75% of all deaths in Cabo Verde in 2021, representing 137 deaths. Of these deaths, 110 were among males and 27 were among females. This shows that smoking-related mortality is disproportionately higher among males. Regulatory measures and public health interventions in Cabo Verde should be continued to address public health challenges posed by tobacco smoking.
Prevalence
28,000
1
2024
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 7.7% | 1A |
| 2022 | 7.4% | 1B A |
| 2024 | 7.3% | 1C |
References:
- WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
- WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
- WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Comments:
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2.7% | 1A |
| 2022 | 2.7% | 1B A |
| 2024 | 2.6% | 1C |
References:
- WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
- WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
- WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Comments:
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 12.7% | 1A |
| 2022 | 12.2% | 1B A |
| 2024 | 11.9% | 1C |
References:
- WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
- WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
- WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Comments:
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
26,279
2
A
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | 7.2% | 3A A |
| 2020 | 4.9% | 3B B |
References:
- WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/
- Cap Vert Enquête STEPS, 2020; National, ages 18-69. Cited in WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Country profile.
Comments:
- These rates are modelled using all national survey data published since 1990 to estimate the underlying prevalence trends by sex, then applying age-standardization to allow comparison with other countries. They do not necessarily resemble country data from 2015
- Prevalence of daily tobacco smoking from the latest survey.
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | 1.8% | 3A A |
| 2020 | 1.3% | 3B B |
References:
- WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/
- Cap Vert Enquête STEPS, 2020; National, ages 18-69. Cited in WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Country profile.
Comments:
- These rates are modelled using all national survey data published since 1990 to estimate the underlying prevalence trends by sex, then applying age-standardization to allow comparison with other countries. They do not necessarily resemble country data from 2015
- Prevalence of daily tobacco smoking from the latest survey.
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | 12.9% | 3A A |
| 2020 | 8.4% | 3B B |
References:
- WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/
- Cap Vert Enquête STEPS, 2020; National, ages 18-69. Cited in WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Country profile.
Comments:
- These rates are modelled using all national survey data published since 1990 to estimate the underlying prevalence trends by sex, then applying age-standardization to allow comparison with other countries. They do not necessarily resemble country data from 2015
- Prevalence of daily tobacco smoking from the latest survey.
1%
2
A
References:
- WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
- WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/
- Cap Vert Enquête STEPS, 2020; National, ages 18-69. Cited in WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Country profile.
Comments:
- These rates are modelled using all national survey data published since 1990 to estimate the underlying prevalence trends by sex, then applying age-standardization to allow comparison with other countries. They do not necessarily resemble country data from 2015
- Prevalence of daily tobacco smoking from the latest survey.
Smoking-related mortality
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 226 | 1A |
| 2021 | 137 | 1B A |
References:
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
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.
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 59 | 1A |
| 2021 | 27 | 1B A |
References:
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
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.
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 167 | 1A |
| 2021 | 110 | 1B A |
References:
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
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.
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 8.53% | 1A |
| 2021 | 3.75% | 1B A |
References:
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
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.
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 5.2% | 1A |
| 2021 | 1.75% | 1B A |
References:
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
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.
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 9.7% | 1A |
| 2021 | 5.25% | 1B A |
References:
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
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.
References:
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
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.
Product promotion
References:
- WHO. 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-cpv.pdf?sfvrsn=695ab11d_3&download=true. Accessed: 2 December 2025.
Regulation
References:
- WHO. 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-cpv.pdf?sfvrsn=695ab11d_3&download=true. Accessed: 2 December 2025.
Comments:
- There are certain restrictions in place.
Availability
Yes
1
A
2023
Yes
1
2023
Yes
1
A
2023
Yes
1
2023
Yes
1
A
2023
References:
- WHO. 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-cpv.pdf?sfvrsn=695ab11d_3&download=true. Accessed: 2 December 2025.
Comments:
- There are certain restrictions in place.
Regulations and restrictions
YES
1
2023
Yes: 18 years
1
2023
YES
1
A
2023
References:
- WHO. 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-cpv.pdf?sfvrsn=695ab11d_3&download=true. Accessed: 2 December 2025.
Comments:
- Restrictions exist in places such as healthcare and educational facilities.
Tax
References:
- WHO. 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-cpv.pdf?sfvrsn=695ab11d_3&download=true. Accessed: 2 December 2025.
Comments:
- Total taxation rate: 30.19%
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We cannot guarantee that the information is up to date or accurate, as the regulatory status of different product
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