Tobacco smoking in Liberia

In Liberia, cigarettes are legally allowed for sale, smoke, and online purchase, under certain restrictions. Based on these regulations, an import license is required for trade, and specific prohibitions are in place regarding smoking in public settings such as healthcare and educational facilities. While the minimum age for sale is set at 18 years, the country does not currently mandate health warnings on packaging. Furthermore, there is no comprehensive ban on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, as only certain forms of advertising are restricted. Cigarettes are subject to an excise tax of 24.54%, contributing to a total taxation rate of 35.01% in Liberia.

The current prevalence of tobacco smoking among adults aged 15 years and older in Liberia was 4.3% in 2024, with a significant gender differences. Among adult males, the current prevalence of smoking was markedly higher with 7.5%, while adult females had a prevalence of 1.2%. In comparison, in 2020, the overall current smoking prevalence among adults was slightly higher with 6.3%. This was 11.3% among adult males and 1.3% among adult females. The number of current adult smokers in 2024 was approximately 144,000 individuals which shows a decrease from 182,645 smokers in 2020.

Smoking-related mortality also remains a significant public health concern in Liberia. In 2021, smoking accounted for 1.67% of all deaths, which equaled to 660 deaths. Gender-specific data indicated that 2.35% of all male deaths and 0.84% of all female deaths in the country were attributable to smoking in 2021. These statistics underscore the persistent public health challenge posed by tobacco smoking in Liberia, requiring concerted efforts to reduce its health impacts.