Tobacco smoking in Kyrgyzstan

Smoking is legal in Kyrgyzstan under a specific regulatory framework which allows sales of cigarettes in person and through online channels, but not through vending machines. The importation of cigarettes for trade is allowed with a license. Health warnings are required on cigarette packaging, the minimum legal age for purchase is 18 years, and there are legal restrictions on smoking in public places. Moreover, advertising of cigarettes is regulated, which imposes a ban on all forms of advertising. Cigarettes are subject to a specific excise rate of 40.54% and a total taxation rate of 51.25%.

The current prevalence of tobacco smoking among adults aged 15 years and older in Kyrgyzstan was 17.4% as of 2024, with a significant gender disparity. The current prevalence of smoking among males was reported to be 32.8%, while among females, it was 2.9%. The total number of current smokers in the country was approximately 832,000 as of 2024. This rate indicates a slight decrease from previous years, when the smoking prevalence was 26.1% in 2020 and 26.6% in 2019. For reference, the adult daily smoking prevalence in 2017 was 20.6%, with a prevalence of 39.5% among males and 2.7% among females.

In terms of mortalities, smoking-related deaths accounted for 13.68% of all deaths in the country in 2021, accounting for 5.76% of all female deaths and 19.84% of all male deaths. The total number of annual deaths due to smoking in 2021 was 5,322, with males accounting for 4,342 deaths and females for 980 deaths. These statistics underscore the public health challenges posed by smoking in Kyrgyzstan, highlighting the need for continued public health efforts in combating tobacco impacts and prevalence.