About

8.1% of the adult population are current smokers

There are approximately 80.5 million current smokers in India

14.4% of men are current smokers but only 1.4% of women

Quick links to detailed datasheets for India
Country profile
Data sourced: 2022.   Page updated: 2024-02-21

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.

932,711

Deaths

In India, 932711 people die each year due to tobacco smoking.

19.5 million €

Market size of NRT.

NRT market size is estimated to be 19.5 million €.

Nicotine Vaping Devices

in India

In 2019, India enacted the Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes Act, 2019 which banned a broad category of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) including electronic cigarettes, vaping devices, and Heat Not Burn (HNB) products. The Act to prohibit the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution, storage and advertisement. There are no restrictions on the use of e-cigarettes.

Heated Tobacco Products

in India

The sale of HTP is banned. You can't advertise HTP in India.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

in India

NRT market size is estimated to be 19.5 million €. In India you don't need a prescription to purchase NRT. Advertising NRT is allowed. NRT is available in many general shops without a prescription.

Snus

in India

There is currently no information about using snus

Pouches

in India

Pouches are allowed.

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.