In Georgia, smoking is legally allowed and cigarettes can be purchased in person or online, and imported for trade with a license. However, sales through vending machines are banned. There is also a minimum age requirement of 18 years for all tobacco purchases, and all packages must display a health warning. Furthermore, there is a total ban on all forms of advertising and promotion for these products, including cigarettes. Smoking in public is also restricted in places such as healthcare and educational facilities. Cigarettes are subject to a specific excise tax of 27.42% and a total taxation rate of 74.49%.
The prevalence and impact of tobacco smoking present significant public health challenges in Georgia. As of 2024, an estimated 834,000 individuals aged 15 years and older were reported to be current smokers. The current prevalence of smoking among adults was reported to be 28% in 2024, with 7.8% prevalence among adult females, and 52.4% prevalence among adult males. The adult daily smoking prevalence in 2021 was 24.2%, with 7.7% among females and 43.3% among males.
Data from 2021 highlight the health consequences of smoking in Georgia, with 12,018 deaths recorded that year. These figures indicate that 10.95% of all deaths in Georgia were attributable to smoking, including 18.23% of all male deaths and 3.59% of female deaths. These data provide a critical backdrop for public health initiatives and regulatory measures aimed at curbing tobacco use and mitigating its health impacts in Georgia.
Prevalence
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 29.3% | 1A |
| 2021 | 27.1% | 1B |
| 2022 | 29% | 1C A |
| 2024 | 28% | 1D |
- 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
- Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC) Georgia, 2021
- WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
- 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
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 6.7% | 1A |
| 2021 | 8.7% | 1B |
| 2022 | 7.1% | 1C A |
| 2024 | 7.8% | 1D |
- 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
- Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC) Georgia, 2021
- WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
- 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
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 55.2% | 1A |
| 2021 | 48.3% | 1B |
| 2022 | 54.7% | 1C A |
| 2024 | 52.4% | 1D |
- 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
- Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC) Georgia, 2021
- WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
- 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
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted 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
- 1. Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC) Georgia, 2021 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- Caucasus Research Resource Center (CRRC) Georgia, 2021
- World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
Smoking-related mortality
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 7,238 | 1A |
| 2021 | 6,534 | 1B A |
| 2021 | 12,018 | 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 | 1,271 | 1A |
| 2021 | 1,065 | 1B A |
| 2021 | 4,676 | 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 | 5,967 | 1A |
| 2021 | 5,469 | 1B A |
| 2021 | 7,343 | 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 | 20.04% | 1A |
| 2021 | 10.95% | 1B A |
| 2021 | 10.7% | 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 | 5.7% | 1A |
| 2021 | 3.59% | 1B A |
| 2021 | 8.77% | 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 | 23.1% | 1A |
| 2021 | 18.23% | 1B A |
| 2021 | 12.44% | 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/
- 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-geo.pdf?sfvrsn=853f56b_3&download=true. Accessed: 3 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-geo.pdf?sfvrsn=853f56b_3&download=true. Accessed: 3 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-geo.pdf?sfvrsn=853f56b_3&download=true. Accessed: 3 December 2025.
- World Integrated Trade Solution. World Bank. Cigarettes containing tobacco imports by country in 2023. Available at: https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/ALL/year/2023/tradeflow/Imports/partner/WLD/product/240220. Accessed: 6 December 2025.
- There are certain restrictions in place.
- An import license is required.
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-geo.pdf?sfvrsn=853f56b_3&download=true. Accessed: 3 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-geo.pdf?sfvrsn=853f56b_3&download=true. Accessed: 3 December 2025.
- 0.27
- Total taxation rate: 74.49%