Tobacco smoking in Djibouti

In Djibouti, smoking is allowed and cigarettes can be legally purchased in person or online, and imported for trade with a proper license. However, sales through vending machines are prohibited. There is a minimum age requirement of 16 years for all tobacco purchases, and all packages must display a health warning. Additionally, there is a total ban on all forms of advertising and promotion of these products. Smoking in public is also restricted in places such as healthcare and educational facilities.

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 Djibouti, reflecting the need for addressing smoking health impacts.