Top Stories from Philippines
19.7% of the adult population are current smokers
There are approximately 16.3 million current smokers in Philippines
35.6% of men are current smokers but only 4.2% of women
Country profile
Data sourced:
2025.
Page updated:
2026-07-01
Smoking in Philippines
There has been a downwards trend in current smoking prevalence in the general population in the Philippines. Smoking prevalence was 34% overall in 2000 and declined to 24.5% in 2015, with a further drop to 20% projected by 2025. For men, the prevalence decreased from 57% in 2000 to 42% in 2015, with a further decrease to 34% projected by 2025. Women’s prevalence was 10% in 2000; this decreased to around 7% in 2015, and is projected to decrease further to around 6% 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 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.
E-cigarettes, Heated Tobacco Products and novel tobacco products, such as snus and nicotine pouches, are currently covered by RA 11900, where they are considered consumer products unless they contain medical claims - in which case they first require FDA approval - see: https://lawphil.net/statutes/repacts/ra2022/ra_11900_2022.html
88,169
Deaths
Annual deaths linked to tobacco smoking in Philippines total 88,169.
0.1 million €
Market size of NRT.
The market for NRT is estimated at 0.1 million €.
Nicotine Vaping Devices
in Philippines
In the Philippines, an administrative order made by the Department of Health in 2014 (No.0008) addresses the regulation of e-cigarettes. The order states that e-cigarettes are a combination of drugs and medical devices, and not tobacco or consumer products – therefore they come under the remit of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The sale and use of e-cigarettes are legal. New regulations in force from July 2019 state that vaping is banned in public places. The Ministry of Health in the Philippines issued an Administrative Order (AO) regarding e-cigarettes on July 10th 2019 which became effective 15 days later. The AO only covers e-cigarettes and does not apply to Heated Tobacco Products. The AO requires companies engaged in the manufacture, import, and retail of e-cigarettes in the Philippines to obtain a license to operate, and to obtain a certificate of product registration, within three months. It also provides for a ban on any form of advertising, promotion or sponsorship (more stringent rules than for cigarettes), and a ban on flavors and additives that are proven or suspected to be appealing to youth.
Heated Tobacco Products
in Philippines
Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) are regulated as consumer products and are permitted for sale and use in the Philippines. However, these products are required to have health warnings on their packaging, and the minimum legal age for their sale and purchase is 21 years. There are also restrictions on their use in public places.
The estimated number of adult current HTP users in the Philippines was approximately 76,115 people in 2021, representing an adult current-use prevalence of 0.1%. Among adult males, the current-use prevalence of HTP was estimated to be 0.2%.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in Philippines
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is legally allowed in the Philippines, but the sale and purchase of its products require a prescription which are available in pharmacies. They are included on the country’s essential drugs list, and the government provides partial financial support for NRT. The market for NRT is estimated at 0.1 million €.
Snus
in Philippines
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 Philippines
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.