Top Stories from Kazakhstan
20% of the adult population are current smokers
There are approximately 2.9 million current smokers in Kazakhstan
34.6% of men are current smokers but only 6.7% of women
Country profile
Data sourced:
2025.
Page updated:
2026-02-16
Smoking in Kazakhstan
Current smoking trends for the overall adult population in Kazakhstan show a decrease from 2000 (32%) to 2015 (25%), with a projection to decrease further to 21% by 2025. For women, smoking prevalence has been declining year by year, from 11% in 2000 to 7% in 2015, and is projected to be around 5% by 2025. For men the trend has also been downwards, with 56% being current smokers in 2000, 44.5% in 2015 and a projection of around 38% 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 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.
15,060
Deaths
15,060 people in Kazakhstan die from tobacco smoking-related diseases each year.
1.2 million €
Market size of NRT.
NRT market size is estimated to be 1.2 million €.
Nicotine Vaping Devices
in Kazakhstan
There is no specific law regarding e-cigarettes. If you have an update please e-mail the GSTHR team. In 2019, approximately 1.3% of adults in Kazakhstan reported using E-cigarettes. An estimated 0.6% of adult women are current E-cigarettes users. An estimated 2% of adult men are current E-cigarettes users. The proportion of people who have ever tried e-cigarette vaping is 7.2%.
Heated Tobacco Products
in Kazakhstan
Adult using HTP prevalence is 1%. HTP is allowed. Advertising of HTP is allowed.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in Kazakhstan
In Kazakhstan, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is legally allowed. People can sale and purchase NRT products without a prescription which are available in pharmacies. However, they are not included on the country’s essential drugs list, and the government does not cover the cost of NRT. The estimated NRT market size in Kazakhstan was 1.2 million € in 2019.
Snus
in Kazakhstan
Used in Scandinavia for more than 200 years, snus is providing smokers in Sweden and Norway with an alternative to combustible cigarettes. Find out what it is, and why it is considered a safer nicotine product in our briefing paper.
Pouches
in Kazakhstan
Nicotine pouches are a relatively new product which can provide users of high-risk tobacco with an alternative that poses fewer risks to their health. Read more about nicotine pouches in our briefing paper
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.