Top Stories from India
9.3% of the adult population are current smokers
There are approximately 100.2 million current smokers in India
16.7% of men are current smokers but only 1.4% of women
Country profile
Data sourced:
2024.
Page updated:
2025-11-05
Smoking in India
There has been a downwards trend in current smoking prevalence in the general population in India. Smoking prevalence was 19% in 2000 and declined to 11.5% in 2015, with a further drop to 8.5% projected by 2025. For men the prevalence decreased from 32% in 2000 to 21% in 2015, with a further decrease to 16% projected by 2025. For women a much lower prevalence of 6% in 2000 dropped to just under 2% in 2015, and is projected to decrease further to less than 1% by 2025. The WHO published prevalence trend estimates in tobacco smoking, as shown here, in their 2018 2nd edition report, which show slightly different smoking prevalence to the WHO country profiles. Data for the estimates are not age standardised, and were obtained from WHO databases. The trend lines are projections, not predictions, of future attainment. A projection indicates a likely endpoint if the country maintains its tobacco control efforts at the same level that it has implemented them to date. Therefore the impact of recent interventions could alter the expected endpoint shown in the projection. While the methods of estimation used in the first and second editions of the WHO report are the same, the volume of data available for the second edition is larger i.e. 200 more national surveys. The results presented are therefore more robust.
1,048,266
Deaths
In India, 1.0 million people die each year due to tobacco smoking.
0%
e-cigarette vaping
The prevalence of current e-cigarette vaping among adults is 0%.
Nicotine Vaping Devices
in India
In India, e-cigarettes are subject to stringent regulations. The overall regulatory status of e-cigarettes is classified as banned. The law enforces a complete ban on all forms of advertising related to these products. It is illegal to sell e-cigarette devices and nicotine, both online and in physical stores. Moreover, it is prohibited to import e-cigarette devices or nicotine for trade, and purchasing these products for personal use, whether online or through other means, is banned by law. In India it is illegal to sell nicotine for e-cigarette vaping.
Heated Tobacco Products
in India
In India, Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) are banned by law, prohibiting their import, sale, and advertisement. Their use is also prohibited in public places. HTP is illegal to be marketed.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in India
In India, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is allowed, and it is legal to use, sell, and purchase NRT products from general stores. These products are regulated as medicinal products. The government provides full financial support to cover the cost of NRT, as it is included on the country's essential drugs list. The market size for NRT in India was USD 33.09 million in 2023.
Snus
in India
In India, snus is banned by law, including its sale, purchase, and all forms of advertisement. However, it is not specified in online sources whether snus can be imported for personal use. If you have any relevant or firsthand information, please share it with the GSTHR team.
Pouches
in India
Nicotine pouches are prohibited by law in India, including their sale and online purchase. However, available sources do not indicate if they can be imported for personal use. If you have any relevant and firsthand information, please share it with the GSTHR team. Pouches are illegal to be marketed.
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.