Prevalence of current tobacco use, males in Malawi
Malawi: Prevalence of current tobacco use, males was 15.0% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Prevalence of current tobacco use, males in Malawi, 2000–2024
Source: Global Health Observatory Data Repository, World Health Organization (WHO). Measured in % of male adults.
Analysis
Malawi recorded 15.0% for prevalence of current tobacco use, males in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
That represents a change of down 3.8% on the previous year and down 27.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, prevalence of current tobacco use, males in Malawi peaked at 36.0% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 15.0%, in 2024.
That places Malawi 136th out of 166 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the bottom quarter.
Prevalence of current tobacco use, males in Malawi, year by year
| Year | % of male adults | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 36.0% | — |
| 2005 | 29.9% | -16.9% |
| 2007 | 27.8% | -7.0% |
| 2010 | 24.9% | -10.4% |
| 2015 | 20.8% | -16.5% |
| 2020 | 17.4% | -16.3% |
| 2022 | 16.2% | -6.9% |
| 2023 | 15.6% | -3.7% |
| 2024 | 15.0% | -3.8% |
Malawi compared with similar countries
- Malawi's 15.0% is below the median for low income countries, which is 15.6%, 96% of the median. (18 countries reporting)
- Malawi's 15.0% is below the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 15.9%, 94% of the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 31.2% | 27.8% | 36.0% | 3 |
| 2010s | 22.9% | 20.8% | 24.9% | 2 |
| 2020s | 16.1% | 15.0% | 17.4% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Malawi
- 133 Burundi 15.5% compare
- 134 Brazil 15.4% compare
- 135 United Arab Emirates 15.3% compare
- 136 Belize 15.0% compare
- 138 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 14.6% compare
- 139 Rwanda 14.5% compare
- 139 Sao Tome and Principe 14.5% compare
More health data for Malawi
- Un projection of annual infant deaths, annual growth rate -0.8368 % change on previous year (2100)
- Heat deaths vs projected death rates, annual growth rate 0.9312 % change on previous year (2090)
- Estimated changes in temperature-related death rates compared to projected death rates 856.3 deaths per 1,000 people (2090)
- Number of infants who die before age 1 6,399 deaths (2100)
- Neonatal tetanus - number of reported cases, gaps filled 2 (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, annual growth rate 1.61 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, female, per capita 0.0714 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, annual growth rate 1.63 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per unit of GDP 0.0001 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is prevalence of current tobacco use, males in Malawi?
- Prevalence of current tobacco use, males in Malawi was 15.0% 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 Malawi?
- The highest recorded value was 36.0% in 2000.
- What is the lowest prevalence of current tobacco use, males recorded in Malawi?
- The lowest recorded value was 15.0% in 2024.
- How does Malawi rank for prevalence of current tobacco use, males?
- Malawi ranks 136th out of 166 countries with data for 2024.
- Is prevalence of current tobacco use, males rising or falling in Malawi?
- Over the last ten years it is down 27.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Malawi 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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About this data
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.