About

12.4% of the adult population are current smokers

There are approximately 15.6 million current smokers in Pakistan

22.2% of men are current smokers but only 2.1% of women

Quick links to detailed datasheets for Pakistan
Country profile
Data sourced: 2024.   Page updated: 2024-04-08

Smoking in Pakistan

There has been a very slight downwards trend in current smoking prevalence in the general population in Pakistan. In 2000 the overall prevalence was estimated to be just under 23%; this reduced to 19% in 2015, with a projection to decrease slightly further to 18.6% by 2025. The trend for men's smoking prevalence has been downwards, from 37% to 35% between 2000 and 2015, and is projected to stay at roughly this level by 2025 according to WHO trend data. By contrast, women's smoking during the same period decreased from 8% in 2000 to 3% in 2015, and is projected to be 1.4% 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 are not age standardised, and 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.

160,189

Deaths

160189 people die every year due to tobacco smoking in Pakistan.

Nicotine Vaping Devices

in Pakistan

Pakistan has no specific laws regarding the sale, importation and use of e-cigarettes.

Heated Tobacco Products

in Pakistan

HTP is allowed. HTP is legal to market.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

in Pakistan

There is currently no information about using NRT

Snus

in Pakistan

Snus is allowed.

Pouches

in Pakistan

Pouches are allowed. Pouches are legal to market.

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.