Latin America - Regional Focus 2024
Trends in prevalence of tobacco use in Latin America, WHO estimations
WHO data suggests that prevalence of tobacco use has been decreasing consistently across several Latin American countries from 2000 to 2025. Our research suggests, however, that these findings should be interpreted with caution, as more recent data are available for several of the countries listed.
Tobacco-related mortality in Latin America - percentage of deaths caused by tobacco relative to all deaths, changes from 1990 to 2019
The latest Global Burden of Disease data show that, despite the optimistic downward trends in smoking prevalence shown by the WHO since the 1990s, no direct correspondence can yet be seen to reductions in smoking-related mortality. While the introduction of a series of tobacco regulations in Latin America in the second half of the 20th century seemingly resulted in a significant decline in smoking prevalence, it has not yet had a direct impact on smoking-related mortality. The proportion of tobacco-related deaths among all deaths was only declining in half of the Latin American countries by 2020.
Percentage of all MPOWER measures implemented in Latin American countries
Compliance with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control agreements has implications for the development and implementation of national tobacco control activities. Many Latin American countries have implemented smoke-free policies to protect public health and reduce the harmful effects of tobacco smoke. These policies vary in their scope and stringency, but they generally aim to create smoke-free environments in indoor public spaces, workplaces, and certain outdoor areas. All Latin American countries require the use of graphic health warnings (GHW) on tobacco packaging, although the size, placement, and rotation of GHWs may vary among countries.
Safer nicotine products in Latin America
Safer nicotine products (SNP) are widely available in Latin American countries. Even in countries where legal purchase is not possible, these products are in use. This is supported by official prevalence data. Fully understanding the presence and use of SNP in Latin America is therefore difficult without taking illicit markets into account, given the large scale of these markets operating in many countries. However, the scale and scope of access to illicit products is not usually documented, making it difficult to quantify and cite – largely leaving researchers limited to observations about whether consumers can or cannot legally purchase different types of SNP in each country.
Economic cost of smoking in Latin America - total direct medical cost as a proportion of nominal GDP
Healthcare expenditure attributable to smoking represents a significant portion of the health budgets and gross domestic product of the countries studied, with tobacco tax revenues covering only a fraction of these amounts.
Annual burden of mortality, disease incidence, and direct medical costs attributable to tobacco by country (2015)
Chile has the highest smoking prevalence and the largest proportion of smoking-related deaths among the Latin American countries, with significant direct medical costs. As the most populous country in the region, Brazil has the highest absolute number of smoking-related deaths and costs, followed by Mexico. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) accounts for the highest proportion of smoking-related deaths across all the Latin American countries, with substantial associated costs. Healthcare expenditure attributable to smoking represents a significant portion of the health budgets and gross domestic product of the countries studied, with tobacco tax revenues covering only a fraction of these amounts.