Tobacco smoking in Guinea

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.