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.