Cigarettes in China
Current smoking prevalence in the general population in China has been decreasing. In 2000 around 30% of the population were current smokers; this decreased to 27% in 2015 and a further decrease to 25% is projected according to WHO trend estimates. Prevalence of smoking in men is high - in 2000 it was 56.5%; this decreased to 51% in 2015 and is projected to decrease to around 47% by 2025. For women the current smoking prevalence was only 3% in 2000, dropping to 2.5% in 2015 and projected to decrease to 2% 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 are not age standardised, and 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.
Tobacco smoking prevalence
Number of current smokers:
Adult current tobacco smoking prevalence:
Adult current tobacco smoking prevalence (female):
Adult current tobacco smoking prevalence (male):
(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/
Smoking-related mortality
Annual number of deaths attributable to tobacco smoking:
Annual number of deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (female):
Annual number of deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (male):
Annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking:
Annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (female):
Annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (male):
The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
Nicotine Vaping Devices (E-cigarettes) in China
Import, export, sale, possession and use of e-cigarettes in mainland China is legal. Vaping is common in larger cities although local laws introduced in certain places like Shanghai, or Shenzhen for example, prohibit vaping in non-smoking areas. Sales of e-cigarettes are banned in Macau but it is still legal to vape. There are a range of public places in which vaping is banned regardless of whether the person is vaping nicotine or not, and fines of around $190 exist for flouting these restrictions. In May 2019, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) announced China had drawn up standards for regulating e-cigarettes and had filed them with the WTO, without specifying any date for adoption of these rules as yet. The standards specify the terms and definitions, technical requirements, test methods, packaging, identification, instructions, storage and transportation of electronic cigarettes.
Prevalence
Adult current e-cigarette vaping prevalence:
Ever tried e-cigarette vaping:
Feng, G., Nan, Y. and Jiang, Y., 2018, January. Prevalence of e-cigarette in China: preliminary findings from two surveys. In TOBACCO INDUCED DISEASES (Vol. 16, pp. 102-102).
Data of 2015 China Adult Tobacco Survey (CATS) and International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project China Survey (ITC China Survey) were analyzed to describe rate of awareness and prevalence on e-cigarette. 2015 CATS is a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of adults aged 15 and over. ITC China survey is a cohort study designed to measure the impact of tobacco control policies on tobacco users over time.
Regulation
Regulated as tobacco product:
Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/
Availability
Legal to buy device online - personal use:
Legal to buy nicotine online - personal use:
Legal to import device - trade:
Legal to import nicotine - trade:
Legal to purchase without prescription:
Regulations and restrictions
Minimum age restrictions on sales:
Legal restrictions on use in public places:
Perception of harm
Not harmful, or less harmful than cigarettes:
Harmful, or more harmful than cigarettes:
Wang, X., Zhang, X., Xu, X., and Gao, Y. (2019). Perceptions and use of electronic cigarettes among young adults in China. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 17(March), 17. https://doi.org/10.18332/tid/102788
This survey relates to young adults 19-29 years old only. The question of harm was NOT relative to cigarettes. Q. Is vaping harmful to users 28% yes, 28% no, 44% dont know. Results varied a little between smokers, ex-smokers and never smokers.
Snus in China
There are no comments specific to snus in China in the database.
Regulation
Information obtained from industry source (2018)
Heated Tobacco Products in China
There are no comments specific to heated tobacco products in China in the database.
Availability
Philip Morris International website. Available at: https://www.pmi.com/smoke-free-products/iqos-our-tobacco-heating-system
Nicotine Replacement Therapy in China
There are no comments specific to nicotine replacement therapy in China in the database.
Availability
WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2019. https://www.who.int/tobacco/global_report/en/ (2019).