Profile
Tanzania Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Tanzania Background
Profile
Tanzania Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Data sourced: 2025.   Page updated: 2025-12-11

In Tanzania, the current prevalence of smoking among adults aged 15 years and older in 2024 was estimated to be 5%, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This figure represents a decrease from previous years, with 6.7% in 2020 and 11% in 2019. The total number of current adult smokers was estimated to be 2 million people as of 2024. The gender-specific prevalence rates for 2024 indicate that 9.2% of males and 1% of females were current smokers. These statistics show a slight decrease from 12.4% of males and 1.2% of females in 2020, and 19.9% of males and 2% of females in 2019 reported as current smokers. The adult daily smoking prevalence in 2018 was 5.2%, with a prevalence of 9.9% among males and 0.9% among females. In terms of absolute numbers, there were approximately 2,041,494 smokers in 2022, showing a decline from 2,166,098 in 2020 and 3,435,679 in 2019. Smoking-related mortality remains a significant concern, with 13,534 deaths reported in 2021, including 10,326 males and 3,209 females. Smoking-related deaths accounted for 3.07% of all deaths in the country, including 4.29% of male deaths and 1.61% of female deaths. These figures highlight the ongoing health impact of tobacco smoking in Tanzania despite a declining trend in recent years.

Prevalence

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Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 3.5 million 1A
2024 2.0 million 1B
References:
  1. (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) Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Ed.). (2019). World Population Prospects 2019 (Online Edition Rev. 1.; Population Division). United Nations. https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. 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
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 11% 1A
2020 6.7% 1B
2022 5.9% 1C A
2024 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 (%).
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 2% 1A
2020 1.2% 1B
2022 1.1% 1C A
2024 1% 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 (%).
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 19.9% 1A
2020 12.4% 1B
2022 10.9% 1C A
2024 9.2% 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 (%).
1.5 million
2 A
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier 5.2% 3A A
2018 5.2% 3B B
References:
  1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 2018. Available at:https://nccd.cdc.gov/GTSSDataSurveyResources/Ancillary/DataReports.aspx?CAID=1
  2. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), 2018; National, ages 15+. Cited in WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Country profile.
Comments:
  1. In Tanzania, GATS was conducted in 2018 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 4,797 completed individual interviews.
  2. Prevalence of daily tobacco smoking from the latest survey.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier 0.9% 3A A
2018 0.9% 3B B
References:
  1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 2018. Available at:https://nccd.cdc.gov/GTSSDataSurveyResources/Ancillary/DataReports.aspx?CAID=1
  2. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), 2018; National, ages 15+. Cited in WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Country profile.
Comments:
  1. In Tanzania, GATS was conducted in 2018 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 4,797 completed individual interviews.
  2. Prevalence of daily tobacco smoking from the latest survey.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier 9.9% 3A A
2018 9.9% 3B B
References:
  1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 2018. Available at:https://nccd.cdc.gov/GTSSDataSurveyResources/Ancillary/DataReports.aspx?CAID=1
  2. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), 2018; National, ages 15+. Cited in WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Country profile.
Comments:
  1. In Tanzania, GATS was conducted in 2018 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 4,797 completed individual interviews.
  2. Prevalence of daily tobacco smoking from the latest survey.
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. Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 2018. Available at:https://nccd.cdc.gov/GTSSDataSurveyResources/Ancillary/DataReports.aspx?CAID=1
  3. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), 2018; National, ages 15+. Cited in WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Country profile.
Comments:
  1. In Tanzania, GATS was conducted in 2018 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 4,797 completed individual interviews.
  2. Prevalence of daily tobacco smoking from the latest survey.

Smoking-related mortality

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Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 17,228 1A
2021 13,534 1B A
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. 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.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 4,509 1A
2021 3,209 1B A
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. 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.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 12,719 1A
2021 10,326 1B A
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. 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.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 5.16% 1A
2021 3.07% 1B B
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. 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 2.5% 1A
2021 1.61% 1B B
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. 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 6.1% 1A
2021 4.29% 1B B
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. 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.
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-tza.pdf?sfvrsn=6e512893_3&download=true. Accessed: 5 December 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-tza.pdf?sfvrsn=6e512893_3&download=true. Accessed: 5 December 2025.
Comments:
  1. There are certain restrictions in place.

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-tza.pdf?sfvrsn=6e512893_3&download=true. Accessed: 5 December 2025.
  2. World Integrated Trade Solution. 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: 6 December 2025.
Comments:
  1. There are certain restrictions in place.
  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-tza.pdf?sfvrsn=6e512893_3&download=true. Accessed: 5 December 2025.
Comments:
  1. Restrictions exist in places such as healthcare and educational facilities.

Tax

0.15
1 A
2023
0.30
1 B
2023
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-tza.pdf?sfvrsn=6e512893_3&download=true. Accessed: 5 December 2025.
Comments:
  1. 0.15
  2. Total taxation rate: 29.97%
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.