Prevalence of current tobacco use in Least developed countries

Least developed countries: Prevalence of current tobacco use was 17.8% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
17.8%
Change on year
down 2.7%
Rank
31st
of 46 groups
All-time high
37.8%
in 2000
All-time low
17.8%
in 2024
Years of data
9
2000–2024

Prevalence of current tobacco use in Least developed countries, 2000–2024

0102030402000201220242000: 37.8 % of adults2005: 32.2 % of adults2007: 30 % of adults2010: 27.2 % of adults2015: 23.2 % of adults2020: 19.9 % of adults2022: 18.8 % of adults2023: 18.3 % of adults2024: 17.8 % of adults

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

Analysis

In 2024, prevalence of current tobacco use in Least developed countries stood at 17.8%. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.

The figure is down 2.7% on the previous year and down 23.4% over ten years.

Over the whole period, prevalence of current tobacco use in Least developed countries peaked at 37.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 17.8%, in 2024.

That places Least developed countries 31st out of 46 groups with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.

Prevalence of current tobacco use in Least developed countries, year by year

Annual values for Prevalence of current tobacco use (% of adults) in Least developed countries, 2000 to 2024.
Year % of adults Change
2000 37.8%
2005 32.2% -14.8%
2007 30.0% -6.6%
2010 27.2% -9.5%
2015 23.2% -14.6%
2020 19.9% -14.1%
2022 18.8% -5.8%
2023 18.3% -2.8%
2024 17.8% -2.7%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 33.3% 30.0% 37.8% 3
2010s 25.2% 23.2% 27.2% 2
2020s 18.7% 17.8% 19.9% 4

Countries ranked near Least developed countries

  1. 28 Greece 30.2% compare
  2. 29 Marshall Islands 29.9% compare
  3. 30 Romania 29.7% compare
  4. 31 Mongolia 29.5% compare
  5. 31 Slovakia 29.5% compare
  6. 33 Belarus 29.2% compare
  7. 34 Republic of Moldova 28.8% compare

See the full ranking of 212 places →

More health data for Least developed countries

All data for Least developed countries →

Frequently asked questions

What is prevalence of current tobacco use in Least developed countries?
Prevalence of current tobacco use in Least developed countries was 17.8% in 2024, according to Global Health Observatory Data Repository, World Health Organization (WHO).
What is the highest prevalence of current tobacco use recorded in Least developed countries?
The highest recorded value was 37.8% in 2000.
What is the lowest prevalence of current tobacco use recorded in Least developed countries?
The lowest recorded value was 17.8% in 2024.
How does Least developed countries rank for prevalence of current tobacco use?
Least developed countries ranks 31st out of 46 groups with data for 2024.
Is prevalence of current tobacco use rising or falling in Least developed countries?
Over the last ten years it is down 23.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Least developed countries 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 (% of adults). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Prevalence of current tobacco use in Least developed countries. Statizoid, drawing on Global Health Observatory Data Repository, World Health Organization (WHO). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://health.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-current-tobacco-use-percent-of-adults/least-developed-countries-un-classification/

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About this data

Indicator
Prevalence of current tobacco use (% of adults)
Unit
% of 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 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.