Tuvalu Background
Data sourced: 2025.   Page updated: 2025-10-30

In Tuvalu, smoking is allowed under specific regulations. The sale of cigarettes is legal, and purchasing them online is also permitted. However, buying them from vending machines is banned. Importing cigarettes for trade is allowed but requires an import license. There are minimum age restrictions in place, with 18 years as the legal minimum age to purchase tobacco products. Additionally, smoking is restricted in public places to protect non-smokers from exposure. Cigarettes in Tuvalu are subject to a total taxation rate of 0.36. In terms of prevalence, the adult current tobacco smoking prevalence in 2024 was estimated to be 33.5%, with a notable gender difference; 47.6% of males and 19.2% of females were reported to be current smokers. The total number current smokers in 2024 was estimated to be 2,000 individuals. Data from 2021 show that tobacco smoking led to 17 deaths in Tuvalu. Among these deaths, 12 were males and 5 were females. This shows that smoking-related deaths accounted for 15.2% of all deaths in the country in 2021, including 19.73% of male deaths and 9.93% of female deaths.

Prevalence

2,000
1
2024
Loading chart, please wait...
Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 37.4% 1A
2020 37% 1B
2022 33.8% 1C A
2024 33.5% 1D
References:
  1. WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
  2. WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
  3. WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
  4. WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Comments:
  1. Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
Loading chart, please wait...
Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 22.3% 1A
2020 16.9% 1B A
2020 22.3% 1C
2022 19% 1D B
2024 19.2% 1E
References:
  1. WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
  2. 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-tuv.pdf?sfvrsn=e3e9bd44_3&download=true. Accessed: 11 June 2025.
  3. WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
  4. WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
  5. WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Comments:
  1. Adults survey: Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), 2019-20; National, ages 15-49
  2. Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
Loading chart, please wait...
Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 52.5% 1A
2020 48% 1B A
2020 51.4% 1C
2022 48.3% 1D B
2024 47.6% 1E
References:
  1. WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
  2. 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-tuv.pdf?sfvrsn=e3e9bd44_3&download=true. Accessed: 11 June 2025.
  3. WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
  4. WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
  5. WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Comments:
  1. Adults survey: Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), 2019-20; National, ages 15-49
  2. Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
37.9%
2 A
22.7%
2 A
54.6%
2 A
References:
  1. WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
  2. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2017, Country profiles http://www.who.int/tobacco/surveillance/policy/country_profile/en/
Comments:
  1. * data is old. Current cigarette smoking status. Source: Population and Housing Census, 2002; National, ages 15+

Smoking-related mortality

References:
  1. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. 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.
  2. 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.

Product promotion

References:
  1. 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-tuv.pdf?sfvrsn=e3e9bd44_3&download=true. Accessed: 11 June 2025.

Regulation

References:
  1. 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-tuv.pdf?sfvrsn=e3e9bd44_3&download=true. Accessed: 11 June 2025.
Comments:
  1. There are certain restrictions to consider.

Availability

References:
  1. 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-tuv.pdf?sfvrsn=e3e9bd44_3&download=true. Accessed: 11 June 2025.
  2. World Bank. Cigarettes containing tobacco imports by country in 2023. Available at: https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/ALL/year/2023/tradeflow/Imports/partner/WLD/product/240220. Accessed: 2 July 2025.
Comments:
  1. There are certain restrictions to consider.
  2. An import license is required.

Regulations and restrictions

References:
  1. 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-tuv.pdf?sfvrsn=e3e9bd44_3&download=true. Accessed: 11 June 2025.
Comments:
  1. Only in some public places such as government facilities, restaurant and public transport.

Tax

References:
  1. 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-tuv.pdf?sfvrsn=e3e9bd44_3&download=true. Accessed: 11 June 2025.
Comments:
  1. Total taxes: 35.5%
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.