Data sourced:
2024.
Page updated:
2025-12-11
Smoking is allowed in Eriteria, but tobacco products including cigarettes should follow specific legal control measures. Based on these regulations, a complete ban on all tobacco advertising, including cigarettes, is strictly implemented. Health warnings on their packaging are required, and smoking is restricted in public places. There is also a minimum age restriction on sales of 18 years. Furthermore, retail sale is allowed, but products cannot legally be purchased online or through vending machines. Importing tobacco products for trade is allowed with a proper license.
The impact of tobacco smoking on public health in Eriteria is significant. As of 2024, there were 113,000 smokers in the country which shows a slight increase from 111,875 in 2019. Data from 2020 show that 5.1% of adults were current smokers, with a higher prevalence among males with 10.2% and a considerably lower prevalence among females with 0.2%. 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
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 114,453 | 1A |
| 2024 | 113,000 | 1B |
References:
- (1) WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition. (2) Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Ed.). (2019). World Population Prospects 2019 (Online Edition Rev. 1.; Population Division). United Nations. https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- 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
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.7% | 2A |
| 2020 | 5.1% | 2B |
References:
- WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
- 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
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0.2% | 2A |
| 2020 | 0.2% | 2B |
References:
- WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
- 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
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 11.1% | 2A |
| 2020 | 10.2% | 2B |
References:
- WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
- 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
180,386
3
A
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| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | 4.7% | 4A A |
| 2010 | 1.8% | 4B B |
References:
- WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/
- Eritrea STEPS survey, 2010; National, ages 25-74. 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 | 0.2% | 4A A |
| 2010 | 0.2% | 4B B |
References:
- WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/
- Eritrea STEPS survey, 2010; National, ages 25-74. 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 | 9.4% | 4A A |
| 2010 | 11.3% | 4B B |
References:
- WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/
- Eritrea STEPS survey, 2010; National, ages 25-74. 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.
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. (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 report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/
- Eritrea STEPS survey, 2010; National, ages 25-74. 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 | 962 | 1A |
| 2021 | 1,440 | 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 | 251 | 1A |
| 2021 | 201 | 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 | 711 | 1A |
| 2021 | 1,238 | 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 | 3.4% | 1A |
| 2021 | 2.83% | 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 | 1.4% | 1A |
| 2021 | 0.87% | 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 | 4.1% | 1A |
| 2021 | 4.45% | 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-eri.pdf?sfvrsn=78e875a1_3&download=true. Accessed: 4 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-eri.pdf?sfvrsn=78e875a1_3&download=true. Accessed: 4 December 2025.
Comments:
- There are certain restrictions in place.
Availability
Yes
1
A
2023
No
1
2023
Yes
1
A
2023
No
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-eri.pdf?sfvrsn=78e875a1_3&download=true. Accessed: 4 December 2025.
Comments:
- There are certain restrictions in place.
Regulations and restrictions
YES
1
2023
Yes: 18 years
1
2023
NO
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-eri.pdf?sfvrsn=78e875a1_3&download=true. Accessed: 4 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.