22.7% of the adult population are current smokers
There are approximately 1.2 million current smokers in Laos
41% of men are current smokers but only 4.5% of women
Country profile
Data sourced:
2026.
Page updated:
2026-08-10
Smoking in Laos
There has been a downwards trend in current smoking prevalence in the general population in Laos. Smoking prevalence was 40% in 2000 and declined to 28% in 2015, with a further drop to 23% projected by 2025. For men the prevalence decreased from 64% in 2000 to 49% in 2015, with a further decrease to 42% projected by 2025. For women a prevalence of 17% in 2000 more than halved to 7% in 2015, and is projected to decrease further to around 4% 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.
6,503
Deaths
Annual deaths linked to tobacco smoking in Laos total 6,503.
22.7%
tobacco smoking
2024 statistics reveal that 22.7% of the population in Laos used Cigarettes.
Nicotine Vaping Devices
in Laos
In Laos, e-cigarettes and vaping are banned by law including their importation, sales, use, and advertising.
Heated Tobacco Products
in Laos
Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are banned in Laos including their sales, use, and advertising.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in Laos
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is banned by law in Laos. It does not fall on the country’s essential drugs list. It is unclear whether travelers can import these products for personal use. Therefore, it is advised to bring a prescription or document of purchase with you.
Snus
in Laos
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 Laos
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.
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