Comparing the share of men and women who are smoking in South Korea

South Korea: Comparing the share of men and women who are smoking was 31.5 in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
31.5
Change on year
down 2.8%
World rank
71st
of 167 countries
All-time high
63.5
in 2000
All-time low
31.5
in 2024
Years of data
9
2000–2024

Comparing the share of men and women who are smoking in South Korea, 2000–2024

02040602000201220242000: 63.52005: 54.72007: 51.82010: 47.32015: 412020: 35.22022: 33.42023: 32.42024: 31.5

Source: Our World in Data.

Analysis

South Korea recorded 31.5 for comparing the share of men and women who are smoking in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.8% on the previous year and down 23.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, comparing the share of men and women who are smoking in South Korea peaked at 63.5 in 2000 and was at its lowest, 31.5, in 2024.

That places South Korea 71st out of 167 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

Comparing the share of men and women who are smoking in South Korea, year by year

Annual values for Comparing the share of men and women who are smoking in South Korea, 2000 to 2024.
Year Value Change
2000 63.5 —
2005 54.7 -13.9%
2007 51.8 -5.3%
2010 47.3 -8.7%
2015 41 -13.3%
2020 35.2 -14.1%
2022 33.4 -5.1%
2023 32.4 -3.0%
2024 31.5 -2.8%

South Korea compared with similar countries

  • South Korea's 31.5 is above the median for high income countries, which is 25.9, 1.2× the median. (57 countries reporting)
  • South Korea's 31.5 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 39.1, 81% of the median. (29 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 56.67 51.8 63.5 3
2010s 44.15 41 47.3 2
2020s 33.12 31.5 35.2 4

Countries ranked near South Korea

  1. 68 Czechia 32.2 compare
  2. 69 Cambodia 31.7 compare
  3. 70 Uzbekistan 31.6 compare
  4. 72 Bahamas 31.3 compare
  5. 73 North Korea 31.1 compare
  6. 74 Estonia 30.9 compare

See the full ranking of 167 places →

More health data for South Korea

All data for South Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is comparing the share of men and women who are smoking in South Korea?
Comparing the share of men and women who are smoking in South Korea was 31.5 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
What is the highest comparing the share of men and women who are smoking recorded in South Korea?
The highest recorded value was 63.5 in 2000.
What is the lowest comparing the share of men and women who are smoking recorded in South Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 31.5 in 2024.
How does South Korea rank for comparing the share of men and women who are smoking?
South Korea ranks 71st out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
Is comparing the share of men and women who are smoking rising or falling in South Korea?
Over the last ten years it is down 23.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this South Korea data come from?
The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Comparing the share of men and women who are smoking. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Comparing the share of men and women who are smoking in South Korea. Statizoid, drawing on Our World in Data. Retrieved 10 November 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/comparing-the-share-of-men-and-women-who-are-smoking/korea-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Comparing the share of men and women who are smoking
Source
Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
167 places, 1,503 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed