Data sourced: 2025. Page updated: 2025-11-22

In Nicaragua, smoking is allowed, but there are specific regulations imposing restrictions on tobacco products including cigarettes. Based on these regulations, health warnings on their cigarette packaging are required, and smoking is restricted in public places. There is also a minimum age restriction of 18 years on sales. A specific excise rate of 62.68% is applied to cigarettes, contributing to a total taxation rate of 75.73%. While retail sale is allowed and products can legally be imported for trade with a license, the sale of cigarettes through online platforms and vending machines is prohibited.

As of 2021, the current smoking prevalence among adult females in Nicaragua was 5.5%. In 2021, an estimated 1.3 thousand deaths were attributed to smoking. Of these, 956 deaths occurred among males and 324 female deaths. This translates to 3.33% of all deaths in the country in 2021, including 4.33% of male deaths and 1.99% of female deaths.

Prevalence

Adult current tobacco smoking prevalence (female):

5.5%

1 A

2021

References:

WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-nic.pdf?sfvrsn=86ccceba_3&download=true. Accessed: 9 June 2025.

Comments:

Adults survey: Encuesta Nicaraguense de Demografía y Salud, 2001; National, ages 15-49

Smoking-related mortality

Annual number of deaths attributable to tobacco smoking:

1,280

1 A

2021

Year	Value	Reference/Comment
2016	1,191	1A
2021	1,280	1B A

References:

The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/

Comments:

Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.

Annual number of deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (female):

324

1 A

2021

Year	Value	Reference/Comment
2016	388	1A
2021	324	1B A

References:

The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/

Comments:

Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.

Annual number of deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (male):

956

1 A

2021

Year	Value	Reference/Comment
2016	803	1A
2021	956	1B A

References:

The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/

Comments:

Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.

Annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking:

3.33%

1 A

2021

Year	Value	Reference/Comment
2016	5.25%	1A
2021	3.33%	1B A

References:

The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/

Comments:

Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.

Annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (female):

1.99%

1 A

2021

Year	Value	Reference/Comment
2016	3.7%	1A
2021	1.99%	1B A

References:

The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/

Comments:

Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.

Annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (male):

4.33%

1 A

2021

Year	Value	Reference/Comment
2016	6%	1A
2021	4.33%	1B A

References:

The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/

Comments:

Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.

References:

Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/

Comments:

Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.