Tobacco smoking in Tuvalu
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
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| Year |
Value |
Reference/Comment |
|
2019
|
37.4% |
1A
|
|
2020
|
37% |
1B
|
|
2022
|
33.8% |
1C
A
|
|
2024
|
33.5% |
1D
|
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
|
22.3% |
1A
|
|
2020
|
16.9% |
1B
A
|
|
2020
|
22.3% |
1C
|
|
2022
|
19% |
1D
B
|
|
2024
|
19.2% |
1E
|
Comments:
- Adults survey: Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), 2019-20; National, ages 15-49
- 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
|
52.5% |
1A
|
|
2020
|
48% |
1B
A
|
|
2020
|
51.4% |
1C
|
|
2022
|
48.3% |
1D
B
|
|
2024
|
47.6% |
1E
|
Comments:
- Adults survey: Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), 2019-20; National, ages 15-49
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
Comments:
- * data is old. Current cigarette smoking status. Source: Population and Housing Census, 2002; National, ages 15+
Smoking-related mortality
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.
Product promotion
Regulation
Comments:
- There are certain restrictions to consider.
Availability
Comments:
- There are certain restrictions to consider.
- An import license is required.
Regulations and restrictions
Comments:
- Only in some public places such as government facilities, restaurant and public transport.
Tax
Comments:
- 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
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