Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged in South Korea
South Korea: Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged was 18.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
18.6%
World rank
93rd
of 179 countries
All-time high
35.5%
in 2000
All-time low
18.6%
in 2024
Years of data
6
2000–2024
Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged in South Korea, 2000–2024
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in %.
Analysis
South Korea recorded 18.6% for age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
That represents a change of down 21.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged in South Korea peaked at 35.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 18.6%, in 2024.
That places South Korea 93rd out of 179 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 35.5% | — |
| 2005 | 30.9% | -13.0% |
| 2010 | 27.0% | -12.6% |
| 2015 | 23.6% | -12.6% |
| 2020 | 20.6% | -12.7% |
| 2024 | 18.6% | -9.7% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 18.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 21.3%, 87% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 18.6% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 24.0%, 78% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 33.2% | 30.9% | 35.5% | 2 |
| 2010s | 25.3% | 23.6% | 27.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 19.6% | 18.6% | 20.6% | 2 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
- 90 Kuwait 19.4% compare
- 91 Uruguay 19.3% compare
- 92 Azerbaijan 18.7% compare
- 93 Cambodia 18.6% compare
- 93 Republic of Korea 18.6% compare
- 96 Australia and New Zealand 18.3% compare
More health data for South Korea
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -1.43 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.1935 % change on previous year (2090)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 69 (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -2.66 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0118 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate -2.76 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.0124 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged in South Korea?
- Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged in South Korea was 18.6% in 2024, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 35.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.6% in 2024.
- How does South Korea rank for age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged?
- South Korea ranks 93rd out of 179 countries with data for 2024.
- Is age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged 15 years and older, by sex (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).