En Corea del Norte, la prevalencia del consumo de tabaco sigue siendo un importante problema de salud pública. En 2022, se informó que aproximadamente 3,511,018 personas de 15 años o más eran fumadoras, lo que representa una leve disminución respecto a 2020, cuando se reportaron 3,573,389 fumadores. La prevalencia general del consumo de tabaco en adultos en 2022 fue del 17.1%, mostrando un descenso apenas perceptible frente al 17.6% de 2020. La prevalencia de consumo de tabaco entre hombres adultos fue del 34.7% en 2022, en comparación con el 36.4% en 2020. Como referencia, en 2017 la prevalencia diaria del consumo de tabaco en adultos fue del 18.3%, con una prevalencia del 38.4% entre hombres. Sin embargo, estos datos no se reportaron para mujeres. En 2021, se atribuyeron aproximadamente 42,321 muertes al consumo de tabaco, lo que representó el 17.48% del total de defunciones en el país. Los datos específicos por género de 2021 indican que, entre los hombres, el 27.4% de todas las muertes se debieron al consumo de tabaco, mientras que para las mujeres, la cifra fue del 8.13%. Estas cifras reflejan los retos persistentes en el control del tabaco en Corea del Norte, lo que requiere intervenciones y políticas específicas para reducir la prevalencia del consumo y sus impactos en la salud.
Prevalencia
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 3.8 million | 1A |
| 2024 | 3.4 million | 1B |
- (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/
- 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
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 18.8% | 1A |
| 2020 | 17.6% | 1B |
| 2022 | 17.1% | 1C A |
| 2024 | 16.1% | 1D |
- 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.
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 0% | 1A |
| 2020 | 0% | 1B |
| 2022 | 0% | 1C A |
| 2024 | 0% | 1D B |
- 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.
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
- Data not available.
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 37.5% | 1A |
| 2020 | 36.4% | 1B |
| 2022 | 34.7% | 1C A |
| 2024 | 32.9% | 1D |
- 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.
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
- 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
- 1. National Adult Tobacco Survey, 2017; National, ages 15+. Cited in WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Country profile. 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- National Adult Tobacco Survey, 2017; National, ages 15+. Cited in WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Country profile.
- Data not available.
- Prevalence of daily tobacco smoking from the latest survey. World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- Prevalence of daily tobacco smoking from the latest survey.
Mortalidad
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 71,371 | 1A |
| 2021 | 42,321 | 1B A |
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
- 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.
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 30,616 | 1A |
| 2021 | 10,150 | 1B A |
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
- 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.
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 40,755 | 1A |
| 2021 | 32,171 | 1B A |
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
- 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.
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 31.72% | 1A |
| 2021 | 17.48% | 1B A |
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
- 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.
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 25.1% | 1A |
| 2021 | 8.13% | 1B A |
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
- 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.
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 36.7% | 1A |
| 2021 | 27.4% | 1B A |
- The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
- 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.
- Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
- 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.
Promoción de productos
- 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-prk.pdf?sfvrsn=cabd85a8_3&download=true. Accessed: 5 December 2025.
Regulación
- 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-prk.pdf?sfvrsn=cabd85a8_3&download=true. Accessed: 5 December 2025.
- There are certain restrictions in place.
Disponibilidad
- 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-prk.pdf?sfvrsn=cabd85a8_3&download=true. Accessed: 5 December 2025.
- There are certain restrictions in place.
Regulaciones y restricciones
- 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-prk.pdf?sfvrsn=cabd85a8_3&download=true. Accessed: 5 December 2025.
- Restrictions exist in places such as healthcare and educational facilities.
Publicaciones
Reducción de daños del tabaco: un problema candente para Asia
Harry Shapiro
El enfoque de este informe de GSTHR es Asia. El sesenta por ciento de los fumadores del mundo vive en esta región y aquí se produce casi la mitad de las muertes mundiales por fumar. Asia también alberga a nueve de cada diez consumidores de tabaco sin combustión (SLT), lo que provoca altas tasas de cáncer oral. En varios países, la salud pública se ve gravemente socavada cuando los gobiernos controlan o tienen una participación significativa en empresas tabacaleras nacionales. Se necesitan nuevas soluciones para abordar la amenaza para la salud pública que suponen fumar y el consumo de tabaco, pero los productos de nicotina más seguros están prohibidos en muchos países. ¿Mejoraría la reducción de daños del tabaco la salud pública en Asia? Y, de ser así, ¿cuáles son los obstáculos que se interponen en su camino?
El evento formal de lanzamiento del informe tuvo lugar en línea el domingo 18 de abril de 2021 y fue copatrocinado con Association of Vapers India.