Tobacco smoking in Djibouti

Data sourced: 2025. Page updated: 2025-12-11

As of 2024, there were an estimated 47,000 current adult smokers in Djibouti. As of 2017, there were an estimated 61,000 daily smokers, representing an overal 9.9% daily smoking prevalence with 18.6% among males and 1.1% among females. In 2021, mortality due to tobacco smoking accounted for 493 deaths annually, representing 5.3% of all deaths in the country. Among these deaths, 408 were males, and 85 were females, corresponding to 7.19% and 2.34% of all male and female deaths, respectively. Comparing these data to 2016, there is a slight decrease in the overall percentage of deaths attributable to tobacco from 8.94% to 5.3%. Specifically, tobacco-related deaths among males decreased from 10.5% to 7.19%, whereas among female they slightly declined from 3.9% to 2.34%. These figures underscore the ongoing public health challenge posed by tobacco smoking in the country, reflecting the need for addressing tobacco health impacts.

Prevalence

Number of current smokers:

47,000

2024

Number of daily smokers:

61,036

2 A

Adult daily tobacco smoking prevalence:

9.9%

3 B

Adult daily tobacco smoking prevalence (female):

1.1%

3 B

Adult daily tobacco smoking prevalence (male):

18.6%

3 B

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
1. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/ 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: 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/
WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/

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 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/
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

Smoking-related mortality

Annual number of deaths attributable to tobacco smoking:

493

1 A

2021

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Year	Value	Reference/Comment
2016	516	1A
2021	493	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.

Annual number of deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (female):

1 A

2021

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Year	Value	Reference/Comment
2016	122	1A
2021	85	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.

Annual number of deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (male):

408

1 A

2021

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Year	Value	Reference/Comment
2016	394	1A
2021	408	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.

Annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking:

5.3%

1 B

2021

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Year	Value	Reference/Comment
2016	8.94%	1A
2021	5.3%	1B B

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.

Annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (female):

2.34%

1 B

2021

Loading chart, please wait...

Year	Value	Reference/Comment
2016	3.9%	1A
2021	2.34%	1B B

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.

Annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (male):

7.19%

1 B

2021

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Year	Value	Reference/Comment
2016	10.5%	1A
2021	7.19%	1B B

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

Ban on all advertising:

Yes

2023

Advertising is regulated:

Yes

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-dji.pdf?sfvrsn=1735ce1f_3&download=true. Accessed: 3 December 2025.

Regulation

Regulatory status:

Allowed

1 A

2023

Regulated as tobacco product:

Yes

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-dji.pdf?sfvrsn=1735ce1f_3&download=true. Accessed: 3 December 2025.

Comments:

There are certain restrictions in place.

Availability

Legal to sell product:

Yes

1 A

2023

Legal to buy product online:

Yes

2023

Legal to use product:

Yes

1 A

2023

Legal to buy product in a vending machine:

2023

Legal to import product for trade:

Yes

2 B

2025

Products are marketed:

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-dji.pdf?sfvrsn=1735ce1f_3&download=true. Accessed: 3 December 2025.
World Integrated Trade Solution. World Bank. Cigarettes containing tobacco imports by country in 2023. Available at: https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/ALL/year/2023/tradeflow/Imports/partner/WLD/product/240220. Accessed: 6 December 2025.

Comments:

There are certain restrictions in place.
An import license is required.

Regulations and restrictions

Health warning on packaging required:

YES

2023

Minimum age restrictions on sales:

Yes: 16 years

2023

Legal restrictions on use in public places:

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-dji.pdf?sfvrsn=1735ce1f_3&download=true. Accessed: 3 December 2025.

Comments:

Restrictions exist in places such as healthcare and educational facilities.

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.