One-in-five (20%) adults in the world smoke tobacco, according to data published by WHO. It might be surprising to know where smoking is most prevalent. In adults, aged 15+, there are 5 countries here more that 40% of the population smokes: three of those are in the Pacific Island (Kiribati, Timor and Nauru) and two are in the Balkans (Montenegro and Greece).
Top per capita cigarette consumption countries are: 1) Kiribati - 47%; 2) Montenegro - 46%; 3) Greece - 43%; 4) Timor - 43%; 5) Nauru - 40%; 6-9 (tied) Russia, Indonesia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia - 39%; 10) Chile – 38%.
The places where many people smoke are clustered in two regions. Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands and Europe – particularly the Balkan region – but also France (33%), Germany (31%), and Austria (30%). In some countries very few people smoke: in Ethiopia, Ghana, Peru and Honduras less than 5% smoke. In Honduras, it’s every 50th person.
There are several factors which influence the prevalence of smoking. One is prosperity; richer countries tend to smoke more. Smoking rates are high across many countries, but this can change quickly. Many of today’s high-income countries had much higher rates of smoking in the past, and have seen a dramatic reduction. In 2000, the UK had rates similar to Indonesia today – 38% of adults smoked. Since then, rates in the UK have fallen to 22%. The rise, peak, then decline of smoking is one we see across many countries.