Tobacco smoking in Eritrea
Data sourced:
2021.
Page updated:
2025-02-10
In Eritrea, the impact of tobacco smoking on public health is significant. Data from 2020 show that 5.1% of adults were smokers, with a higher prevalence among males at 10.2% and a considerably lower prevalence among females at 0.2%. The number of tobacco smokers in 2020 was estimated at 102,150, showing a decrease from 111,875 in 2019.
In terms of mortalities, the latest figures from 2021 indicate that 2.83% of all deaths in the country were attributable to smoking-related causes. Also, 4.45% of all male deaths and 0.87% of all female deaths were related to smoking. The annual number of smoking-attributable deaths in 2021 was 1,440, with 1,238 among males and 201 among females. In comparison, in 2016, there were 962 deaths from smoking, indicating a notable increase over the years.
These data highlight the ongoing public health challenge of tobacco smoking in Eritrea and underscore the importance of continued public health efforts to address this issue.
Prevalence
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2019
|
111.9 thousand |
1A
|
2020
|
102.2 thousand |
1B
|
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2019
|
5.7% |
2A
|
2020
|
5.1% |
2B
|
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2019
|
0.2% |
2A
|
2020
|
0.2% |
2B
|
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2019
|
11.1% |
2A
|
2020
|
10.2% |
2B
|
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2017 or earlier
|
4.7% |
4A
A
|
2010
|
1.8% |
4B
B
|
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.
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2017 or earlier
|
0.2% |
4A
A
|
2010
|
0.2% |
4B
B
|
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.
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2017 or earlier
|
9.4% |
4A
A
|
2010
|
11.3% |
4B
B
|
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.
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
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2016
|
962 |
1A
|
2021
|
1.4 thousand |
1B
A
|
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.
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2016
|
251 |
1A
|
2021
|
201 |
1B
A
|
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.
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2016
|
711 |
1A
|
2021
|
1.2 thousand |
1B
A
|
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.
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2016
|
3.4% |
1A
|
2021
|
2.83% |
1B
A
|
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.
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2016
|
1.4% |
1A
|
2021
|
0.87% |
1B
A
|
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.
Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
2016
|
4.1% |
1A
|
2021
|
4.45% |
1B
A
|
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.
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.
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.