Prevalence of current tobacco use, females in South Africa
South Africa: Prevalence of current tobacco use, females was 8.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of current tobacco use, females in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: Global Health Observatory Data Repository, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of female adults.
Analysis
In 2024, prevalence of current tobacco use, females in South Africa stood at 8.5%. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of current tobacco use, females in South Africa peaked at 10.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 8.5%, in 2024.
That places South Africa 71st out of 166 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Prevalence of current tobacco use, females in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of female adults | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 10.5% | — |
| 2005 | 10.1% | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 9.9% | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 9.6% | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 9.2% | -4.2% |
| 2020 | 8.8% | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 8.7% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 8.6% | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 8.5% | -1.2% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 8.5% is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.9%, 1.7× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 8.5% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.4%, 3.5× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.2% | 9.9% | 10.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 9.4% | 9.2% | 9.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 8.7% | 8.5% | 8.8% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More health data for South Africa
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -2.2 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate -0.1386 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 1,152 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 3,333 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 0 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate -0.5504 % 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 0.045 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 0.0003 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of current tobacco use, females in South Africa?
- Prevalence of current tobacco use, females in South Africa was 8.5% in 2024, according to Global Health Observatory Data Repository, World Health Organization (WHO).
- What is the highest prevalence of current tobacco use, females recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 10.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of current tobacco use, females recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.5% in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for prevalence of current tobacco use, females?
- South Africa ranks 71st out of 166 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of current tobacco use, females rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Global Health Observatory Data Repository, World Health Organization (WHO), published as part of Prevalence of current tobacco use, females (% of female adults). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data).
About this data
The percentage of the female population ages 15 years and over who currently use any tobacco product (smoked and/or smokeless tobacco) on a daily or non-daily basis. Tobacco products include cigarettes, pipes, cigars, cigarillos, waterpipes (hookah, shisha), bidis, kretek, heated tobacco products, and all forms of smokeless (oral and nasal) tobacco. Tobacco products exclude e-cigarettes (which do not contain tobacco), “e-cigars”, “e-hookahs”, JUUL and “e-pipes”. The rates are age-standardized to the WHO Standard Population.