7.9% of the adult population are current smokers
There are approximately 226,788 current smokers in Mauritania
14.8% of men are current smokers but only 1.4% of women
Country profile
Data sourced:
2022.
Page updated:
2025-01-07
Smoking in Mauritania
The prevalence of current smokers in the general population in Mauritania has been increasing. In 2000 the prevalence was estimated to be 16%; this increased to 26% by 2015, with a projection to increase to 36% by 2025. This increase in prevalence has been driven entirely by men's smoking, which increased from 26% to 47% between 2000 and 2015, and is projected to increase further to 68% by 2025 according to WHO trend data. By contrast, women's smoking during the same period decreased from 6% in 2000 to 4% in 2015, and is projected to reduce to 3% by 2025. The WHO published prevalence trend estimates in tobacco smoking, as shown here, in their 2015 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.
832
Deaths
In Mauritania, 832 people die each year due to tobacco smoking.
7.9%
tobacco smoking
The prevalence of current tobacco smoking among adults is 7.9%.
Nicotine Vaping Devices
in Mauritania
In Mauritania, several sources state that no specific laws regulate e-cigarettes and vaping. There are no available data on whether the sale, purchase, marketing, advertisement, or import of vaping products is permitted, nor on any public use restrictions.
However, a WHO study on e-cigarette use among students indicates that vaping products are available and used in the country.
If you have firsthand experience or insights on vaping regulations in Mauritania, please email the GSTHR team.
Heated Tobacco Products
in Mauritania
You can't advertise HTP in Mauritania.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in Mauritania
You can't advertise NRT in Mauritania.
Snus
in Mauritania
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 Mauritania
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.