In Guinea, cigarettes are regulated as tobacco products and are legally allowed for sale and smoke, with certain restrictions. The regulatory framework mandates health warnings on all cigarette packaging and imposes legal restrictions on smoking in public places in areas such as healthcare and educational facilities. While the product can be legally imported for trade (with proper licenses) and purchased through online channels or vending machines, a comprehensive ban on all tobacco advertising is enforced. There are currently no minimum age restrictions on sales of tobacco products including cigarettes.
In terms of prevalence, the number of current smokers in 2024 was estimated to be 345,000 individuals in Guinea. Daily prevalence was reported to be 10.5% among adults as of 2018. Mortality data indicate that smoking-related deaths remains a significant public health issue. In 2021, the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) reported that tobacco smoking accounted for approximately 2.41% of all deaths in the country. This shows a decline compared to 2016, when the percentage was 5.24%. Also, 3.35% of all male deaths and 1.25% of all female deaths were attributable to tobacco smoking. This translates to a total of 3,056 deaths, with males accounting for 2,351 of these deaths and females 705.
These data reflect a decrease from 2016, when the total number of smoking-attributable deaths was 4,453, with 3,622 male and 831 female deaths. Furthermore, the prevalence of daily tobacco smoking among adult males was recorded to be 10.5% in the 2018 Demographic and Health Survey. These data underscore the persistent impact of smoking on public health in Guinea, highlighting the need for continued efforts in mitigating smoking impacts.
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
- Demographic and Health Survey, 2018; National, ages 15-59 (men) 15-49 (women). Cited in WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Country profile.
- Prevalence of daily tobacco smoking from the latest survey.
Smoking-related mortality
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 4,453 | 1A |
| 2021 | 3,056 | 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 | 831 | 1A |
| 2021 | 705 | 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 | 3,622 | 1A |
| 2021 | 2,351 | 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 | 5.24% | 1A |
| 2021 | 2.41% | 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 | 1.5% | 1A |
| 2021 | 1.25% | 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 | 6.1% | 1A |
| 2021 | 3.35% | 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-gin.pdf?sfvrsn=309e7bec_3&download=true. Accessed: 5 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-gin.pdf?sfvrsn=309e7bec_3&download=true. Accessed: 5 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-gin.pdf?sfvrsn=309e7bec_3&download=true. Accessed: 5 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-gin.pdf?sfvrsn=309e7bec_3&download=true. Accessed: 5 December 2025.
- Restrictions exist in places such as healthcare and educational facilities.
Publications
African Region - Increasing Daily Tobacco Prevalence Trends (Male and Female)
- No Fire, No Smoke: The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction
This figure, using WHO data, shows the steep gradient of increases in smoking prevalence estimates in specific African countries, where the projected increases (both sexes) in daily smoking are 5 percent and higher.
In countries that have experienced steep falls in smoking prevalence over the years, the graphs have begun to level off, for example in Australia, suggesting there remains a substantial number of people who, for whatever reason, are determined to carry on smoking. The WHO trend data to 2025 predicts only very modest falls in smoking levels in several countries and predicts some rapid increases, mainly in Africa, the Middle East, some parts of Eastern Europe and republics of the former Soviet Union. Some of the more extreme examples include Cameroon (from 14 percent to 43 percent); Republic of Congo (from 14 percent to 48 percent) and Bahrain (from 25 percent to 60 percent).
See also p. 19 of the report: No Fire, No Smoke: The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction 2018 — Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (gsthr.org)
