Prevalence of current tobacco use, males in North Korea

North Korea: Prevalence of current tobacco use, males was 31.1% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
31.1%
Change on year
down 2.8%
World rank
72nd
of 166 countries
All-time high
61.3%
in 2000
All-time low
31.1%
in 2024
Years of data
9
2000–2024

Prevalence of current tobacco use, males in North Korea, 2000–2024

02040602000201220242000: 61.3 % of male adults2005: 53.5 % of male adults2007: 50.4 % of male adults2010: 46 % of male adults2015: 39.9 % of male adults2020: 34.7 % of male adults2022: 32.9 % of male adults2023: 32 % of male adults2024: 31.1 % of male adults

Source: Global Health Observatory Data Repository, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of male adults.

Analysis

In 2024, prevalence of current tobacco use, males in North Korea stood at 31.1%. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.

That represents a change of down 2.8% on the previous year and down 22.1% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of current tobacco use, males in North Korea peaked at 61.3% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 31.1%, in 2024.

That places North Korea 72nd out of 166 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

Prevalence of current tobacco use, males in North Korea, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of current tobacco use, males (% of male adults) in North Korea, 2000 to 2024.
Year % of male adults Change
2000 61.3%
2005 53.5% -12.7%
2007 50.4% -5.8%
2010 46.0% -8.7%
2015 39.9% -13.3%
2020 34.7% -13.0%
2022 32.9% -5.2%
2023 32.0% -2.7%
2024 31.1% -2.8%

North Korea compared with similar countries

  • North Korea's 31.1% is above the median for low income countries, which is 15.6%, 2.0× the median. (18 countries reporting)
  • North Korea's 31.1% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 39.1%, 80% of the median. (29 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 55.1% 50.4% 61.3% 3
2010s 43.0% 39.9% 46.0% 2
2020s 32.7% 31.1% 34.7% 4

Countries ranked near North Korea

  1. 69 Uzbekistan 31.6% compare
  2. 70 South Korea 31.5% compare
  3. 71 Bahamas 31.3% compare
  4. 73 Estonia 30.9% compare
  5. 74 Seychelles 30.4% compare
  6. 75 Congo 30.0% compare

See the full ranking of 212 places →

More health data for North Korea

All data for North Korea →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of current tobacco use, males in North Korea?
Prevalence of current tobacco use, males in North Korea was 31.1% in 2024, according to Global Health Observatory Data Repository, World Health Organization (WHO).
What is the highest prevalence of current tobacco use, males recorded in North Korea?
The highest recorded value was 61.3% in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of current tobacco use, males recorded in North Korea?
The lowest recorded value was 31.1% in 2024.
How does North Korea rank for prevalence of current tobacco use, males?
North Korea ranks 72nd out of 166 countries with data for 2024.
Is prevalence of current tobacco use, males rising or falling in North Korea?
Over the last ten years it is down 22.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this North Korea 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, males (% of male adults). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Prevalence of current tobacco use, males in North Korea. Statizoid, drawing on Global Health Observatory Data Repository, World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved 18 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-current-tobacco-use-males-percent-of-male-adults/korea-dem-people-s-rep/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of current tobacco use, males (% of male adults)
Unit
% of male adults
Source
Global Health Observatory Data Repository, World Health Organization (WHO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
212 places, 1,908 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

The percentage of the male 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.