In Jordan, there were 13,000 current users of traditional smokeless tobacco in 2019. The adult usage rate was 0.2%, with no reported use among females and 0.4% among males. Interestingly, while daily use among males was reported as 0%, there was a small percentage (0.1%) of daily use among females.
The product is legally allowed and regulated as a tobacco product. It can be legally used, sold, and purchased online, and it is marketed in the country. Despite a complete ban on all advertising, smokeless tobacco products are still available. Notably, there is no requirement for health warnings on packaging, and the minimum legal age for purchase is 18 years.
Prevalence
- 1. WHO. Jordan STEPS Survery 2019. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/ncds/ncd-surveillance/data-reporting/jordan/jor_2019-tobacco-fact-sheets.pdf. Accessed: 22 May 2025. 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- WHO. Jordan STEPS Survery 2019. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/ncds/ncd-surveillance/data-reporting/jordan/jor_2019-tobacco-fact-sheets.pdf. Accessed: 22 May 2025.
- STEPS Survey 2019, Adults Aged 18–69 Years Old World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- STEPS Survey 2019, Adults Aged 18–69 Years Old
Product promotion
- Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Jordan. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/jordan/sales-restrictions. Accessed: 22 May 2025.
Regulation
- Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Jordan. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/jordan/sales-restrictions. Accessed: 22 May 2025.
Availability
- Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Jordan. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/jordan/sales-restrictions. Accessed: 22 May 2025.
Regulations and restrictions
- 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-jor.pdf?sfvrsn=693ae3c6_3&download=true. 16 May 2025.
- Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Jordan. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/jordan/sales-restrictions. Accessed: 22 May 2025.
Publications
Tobacco Harm Reduction: A Burning Issue for Asia
Harry Shapiro
The focus of this GSTHR briefing is Asia. Sixty per cent of the world’s smokers live in this region and almost half the global deaths from smoking occur here. Asia is also home to nine in every ten users of smokeless tobacco (SLT), leading to high rates of oral cancer. In a number of countries, public health is severely undermined where governments either control or have a significant stake in domestic tobacco companies. New solutions are needed to tackle the public health threat from smoking and tobacco use - but safer nicotine products are banned in many countries. Would tobacco harm reduction improve public health in Asia? And if so - what are the obstacles that stand in its way?
The formal launch event for the briefing took place online on Sunday 18 April 2021 and was co-hosted with Association of Vapers India.
