Top Stories from Mexico
15.4% of the adult population are current smokers
There are approximately 15.2 million current smokers in Mexico
23.9% of men are current smokers but only 7.6% of women
Country profile
Data sourced:
2025.
Page updated:
2025-11-05
Smoking in Mexico
There has been a downwards trend in current smoking prevalence in the general population in Mexico. Smoking prevalence was 24% in 2000 and declined to 15% in 2015, with a further drop to 10% projected by 2025. For men the prevalence decreased from 36.5% in 2000 to 22% in 2015, with a further decrease to 16% projected by 2025. For women a prevalence of 13% in 2000 decreased to around 7% in 2015, and is projected to decrease further to around 5% 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 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.
39,509
Deaths
In Mexico, 39,509 people die each year due to tobacco smoking.
2.2 million €
Market size of NRT.
NRT market size is estimated to be 2.2 million €.
Nicotine Vaping Devices
in Mexico
A decree issued by the President under The General Law on Tobacco Control (article 16) in Mexico prohibits the sale, distribution, exhibition, promotion or manufacture of an object that imitates a tobacco product. This includes nicotine-containing e-cigarettes. The decree was originally put in place to address candy cigarettes. There is no legal restriction on e-cigarette use. The law prohibiting sales appears to be widely flouted.
Heated Tobacco Products
in Mexico
Heated tobacco products are not regulated. You can't advertise HTP in Mexico.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in Mexico
Advertising of NRT is allowed.
Snus
in Mexico
Used in Scandinavia for more than 200 years, snus is providing smokers in Sweden and Norway with an alternative to combustible cigarettes. Find out what it is, and why it is considered a safer nicotine product in our briefing paper.
Pouches
in Mexico
Nicotine pouches are a relatively new product which can provide users of high-risk tobacco with an alternative that poses fewer risks to their health. Read more about nicotine pouches in our briefing paper
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.