Tobacco smoking in Cambodia

In Cambodia, smoking is legal but subject to a series of regulations. Cigarettes are regulated under national law and are legally permitted for sale and smoke. They can be purchased in retail outlets; however, online purchase and sales through vending machines are not permitted. The importation of cigarettes for trade is allowed with an appropriate license. Health warnings on cigarette packaging are mandatory, the minimum legal age for purchase is 18 years, and there are legal restrictions on smoking in public places such as healthcare and educational facilities. There is also comprehensive ban in place on all tobacco advertising, including cigarettes. Cigarettes in Cambodia are subject to an excise value of 0% and a total taxation rate of 26.45%.

The prevalence of tobacco smoking among adults in Cambodia remains a significant public health concern. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2024 estimates, the current prevalence of smoking among adults aged 15 years and older was 14.1%. Breaking this down by gender, 27.3% of males and 1.8% of females were reported as current smokers. This marks a slight decrease in prevalence among males from 28.0% in 2020 and a more notable decline from 32.3% in 2019. The total number of adult tobacco smokers in 2024 was approximately 1,7 million which shows a decrease from 1,9 million in 2019. The adult daily smoking prevalence in 2017 was 15.5%, with a prevalence of 30.4% among males and 1.9% among females.

The health impact of smoking in Cambodia is also significant. In 2021, 13.43% of all deaths were attributed to tobacco smoking. This percentage includes 20.01% of all male deaths and 6.23% of all female deaths in the country. In terms of absolute number, in 2021, the total number of smoking-related deaths was 17,306, comprising 13,474 male and 3,832 female deaths. These figures highlight the ongoing challenge Cambodia faces in reducing tobacco smoking and its associated health impacts.