In Micronesia, smoking is allowed, but tobacco products including cigarettes should follow specific legal control measures. These regulations impose a comprehensive ban on all tobacco advertising, including cigarettes. Moreover, health warnings on their packaging are required, and smoking is restricted in public places such as healthcare and educational facilities. There is also a minimum age restriction of 18 years for sales. No specific excise tax is applied on cigarettes, but the total taxation rate is 44.16%. Retail sale is allowed, and products can legally be imported for trade with a license. However, the sale of cigarettes through online platforms and vending machines is prohibited.
Smoking-related mortalities present a significant public health challenge in Micronesia. According to data from 2021, smoking-related deaths accounted for 17.89% of all deaths in the country, reflecting a slight increase from 17.39% in 2016. The number of smoking-related deaths reached 146 in 2021, of which 102 deaths were male deaths and 44 were female deaths. This marks an increase from 2016, when the total number of deaths was 132, including 91 male deaths and 41 female deaths. The smoking-related death rate among males was 22.42% in 2021, down from 20.5% in 2016, while among females, it was 12.15% in 2021, compared to 10.5% in 2016.
The total number of current smokers was estimated to be 28,000 in Micronesia as of 2024. The adult daily smoking prevalence data indicate that the smoking prevalence was 35.40%, with 39.80% among males and 25.40% among females. Additionally, the number of daily smokers was approximately 24,426 in 2017. These figures underscore the ongoing impact of tobacco smoking on public health in Micronesia, necessitating continued efforts in mitigating health impacts from smoking.
Prevalence
- 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 report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/
- Age range varies from majority of WHO prevalence estimates. Data is drawn from the National outcome measures survey 2012, age range 12- 98. Cigarettes only.
Smoking-related mortality
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 132 | 1A |
| 2021 | 146 | 1B A |
- 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/
- 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 | 41 | 1A |
| 2021 | 44 | 1B A |
- 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/
- 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 | 91 | 1A |
| 2021 | 102 | 1B A |
- 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/
- 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 | 17.39% | 1A |
| 2021 | 17.89% | 1B A |
- 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/
- 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 | 10.5% | 1A |
| 2021 | 12.15% | 1B A |
- 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/
- 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 | 20.5% | 1A |
| 2021 | 22.42% | 1B A |
- 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/
- 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.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
- 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
- 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-fsm.pdf?sfvrsn=7fca423a_3&download=true. Accessed: 4 December 2025.
Regulation
- 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-fsm.pdf?sfvrsn=7fca423a_3&download=true. Accessed: 4 December 2025.
- There are certain restrictions in place.
Availability
- 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-fsm.pdf?sfvrsn=7fca423a_3&download=true. Accessed: 4 December 2025.
- There are certain restrictions in place.
Regulations and restrictions
- 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-fsm.pdf?sfvrsn=7fca423a_3&download=true. Accessed: 4 December 2025.
- Restrictions exist in places such as healthcare and educational facilities.
Tax
- 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-fsm.pdf?sfvrsn=7fca423a_3&download=true. Accessed: 4 December 2025.
- Total taxation rate: 44.16%