Tobacco smoking in Iraq

In Iraq, cigarettes are legally available and allowed for purchase and smoking under a regulated framework. They can also be purchased online and through vending machines. However, their sale and purchase are restricted to individuals aged 18 years and older, health warnings on packaging are mandatory, and there are legal restrictions on smoking in public places, including healthcare and educational facilities. In terms of taxation, the total taxation rate on cigarettes is 16.92%, with no excise tax levied.

The prevalence of tobacco smoking among adults aged 15 years and older in Iraq, as estimated in 2024, indicates a significant gender disparity. The current prevalence rate of smoking among Iraqi males was 37.3%, while among females, it was only 1.7%. Overall, the adult current smoking prevalence was 19.3%, showing a slight increase from 18.9% in 2020. The total number of smokers in 2024 was estimated to be 5.5 million individuals. For reference, the adult daily tobacco smoking prevalence in 2017 was 19.6% -- 36.1% among males and 1.8% among females. These figures are crucial in understanding the public health impact of tobacco smoking in Iraq.

In terms of smoking-related mortality, the data from 2021 show that smoking led to 11.71% of all deaths in Iraq, and 15.47% of all deaths among males and 6.05% of all deaths among females were attributable to smoking. The annual number of deaths attributable to tobacco smoking in 2021 was 27,305, of which males accounted for 21,685 deaths and females accounted for 5,620 mortalities. These data highlight the ongoing challenge of tobacco smoking and its impact on public health in Iraq.