Tobacco smoking in Algeria

Smoking is legally allowed in Algeria but tobacco products are controlled by comprehensive control regulations. Based on these regulations, cigarettes are allowed for sale and use with some restrictions. They can be purchased through retail outlets, online platforms, as well as from vending machines. The importation of cigarettes for trade is allowed with an appropriate license. However, health warnings on packaging are required , the minimum legal age for purchase is 18 years, and there are legal restrictions on smoking in public places, including healthcare and educational facilities. Additionally, a complete ban on all tobacco advertising is in force. Cigarettes in Algeria are subject to a specific excise tax of 10.93%, contributing to a total taxation rate of 44.16%.

The prevalence of tobacco smoking remains a significant public health issue in Algeria. As of 2024, the current smoking prevalence among adults was17.7%, with a marked gender disparity: 34.2% of males and only 0.6% of females were current smokers. In 2020, smoking prevalence among males was slightly higher with 30.5%, while among females, it was 0.6%. The total number of tobacco smokers aged 15 and above was estimated to be 5.7 million individuals in 2024, which shows an increase from 4.6 million smokers in 2020. For reference, the adult daily tobacco smoking prevalence was 14.3% with a significant gender difference: 28.1% among males and 0.3% among females.

The percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking in Algeria in 2021 was 8.44% overall, 11.67% among males and 4.15% among females. This represents that the number of smoking-related deaths among males was 18,214, while among females, it was 4,869, making a total of 23,083 deaths. These figures underscore the persistent health challenges posed by tobacco smoking in Algeria, necessitating continued public health efforts to address this issue.