Tobacco smoking in Pakistan
Data sourced:
2024.
Page updated:
2025-10-30
According to the WHO data, as of 2024, there were approximately 18.3 million smokers in Pakistan. This figure represents an increase from 17.5 million smokers in 2022 and equal number of 18.3 million in 2020. The adult current smoking prevalence rate in 2024 was reported to be 11.6%, a slight decrease from 12% in 2022 and 13.1% in 2020. The current smoking prevalence among males in 2024 was 20.6%, a slight reduction from 22.7% in 2020, while among females it was 2.6% in 2023, a slight decrease from 2.7% in 2022. For reference, the adult daily tobacco smoking prevalence in 2014 was 11.5% with 20.1% among males and only 2% among females. There were 14.5 million daily smokers in the same year.
In 2021, tobacco smoking caused 7.59% of all deaths in the country, equating to 130,593 tobacco-related fatalities, with males accounting for 106,028 deaths and females for 24,565. Despite a reduction in recent years, these prevalence and mortality statistics underscore the ongoing public health challenge posed by tobacco smoking in Pakistan, informing government strategies aimed at reducing tobacco health impacts.
Prevalence
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| Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
|
2019
|
23.2 million |
1A
|
|
2024
|
18.3 million |
1B
|
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| Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
|
2019
|
16.9% |
1A
|
|
2020
|
13.1% |
1B
|
|
2022
|
12% |
1C
A
|
|
2023
|
12.4% |
1D
|
|
2024
|
11.6% |
1E
|
Comments:
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
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| Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
|
2019
|
2.8% |
1A
|
|
2020
|
3.1% |
1B
|
|
2022
|
2.7% |
1C
A
|
|
2023
|
2.1% |
1D
|
|
2024
|
2.6% |
1E
|
Comments:
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
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| Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
|
2019
|
31% |
1A
|
|
2020
|
22.7% |
1B
|
|
2022
|
21.3% |
1C
A
|
|
2023
|
22.2% |
1D
|
|
2024
|
20.6% |
1E
|
Comments:
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
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| Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
|
2017 or earlier
|
20.6% |
3A
A
|
|
2018
|
20.1% |
3B
B
|
Comments:
- In Pakistan, GATS was conducted in 2014 as a household survey of persons 15 years of age and older. A multi-stage, geographically clustered sample design was used to produce nationally representative data. There were a total of 7,831 completed individual interviews.
- Prevalence of daily tobacco smoking from the latest survey.
Comments:
- In Pakistan, GATS was conducted in 2014 as a household survey of persons 15 years of age and older. A multi-stage, geographically clustered sample design was used to produce nationally representative data. There were a total of 7,831 completed individual interviews.
- Prevalence of daily tobacco smoking from the latest survey.
Smoking-related mortality
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| Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
|
2016
|
160,189 |
1A
|
|
2021
|
130,593 |
1B
A
|
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.
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| Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
|
2016
|
39,949 |
1A
|
|
2021
|
24,565 |
1B
A
|
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.
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| Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
|
2016
|
120,240 |
1A
|
|
2021
|
106,028 |
1B
A
|
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.
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| Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
|
2016
|
14.48% |
1A
|
|
2021
|
7.59% |
1B
B
|
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.
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| Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
|
2016
|
6.9% |
1A
|
|
2021
|
3.25% |
1B
B
|
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.
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| Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
|
2016
|
17% |
1A
|
|
2021
|
10.97% |
1B
B
|
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.
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.
The GSTHR database is updated regularly by our team.
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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.
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