Tobacco smoking in Seychelles

In Seychelles, cigarettes are legally allowed to sell and use, but they are regulated and restricted. All forms of tobacco advertising including cigarettes are banned. The minimum legal age to buy cigarettes is 18 years, and smoking is prohibited in public places such as healthcare and educational facilities. Health warnings on their packaging are required. Additionally, cigarettes cannot be purchased online or through vending machines. The country also applies a specific excise tax of 56.46%, contributing to a total taxation rate of 69.51% on cigarettes.

The current prevalence of tobacco smoking among adults aged 15 years and older was estimated to be 18.8% as of 2024, with a prevalence of 30.2% among males and 4.2% among females. In 2020, the overall prevalence was 20.1%, with 33.9% among males and 5.7% among females. The total number of smokers in 2024 was recorded to be approximately 19,000 individuals, while in 2021, there were 14,797 current smokers. For reference, the adult daily smoking prevalence was recorded to be 16.6%, with 28.4% among males and 5.2% among females in 2013.

Smoking-related mortality data from 2021 indicate that 10.53% of all deaths in the Seychelles were attributable to smoking, with a higher percentage among males (15.75%) compared to females (3.76%). This represents 91 deaths, of which 77 deaths were among males and 14 deaths were among females. These statistics underscore the ongoing public health challenge posed by tobacco smoking in Seychelles, emphasizing the critical need for effective public health measures and policies to mitigate tobacco-related harm in the country.