Share of men who are smoking in South Africa
South Africa: Share of men who are smoking was 39 in 2024. ▲ Rising
Latest (2024)
39
Change on year
up 1.0%
World rank
42nd
of 167 countries
All-time high
39
in 2024
All-time low
34.7
in 2000
Years of data
9
2000–2024
Share of men who are smoking in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 39 for share of men who are smoking in 2024. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 1.0% on the previous year and up 4.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of men who are smoking in South Africa peaked at 39 in 2024 and was at its lowest, 34.7, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 42nd of 167 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
Share of men who are smoking in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 34.7 | — |
| 2005 | 35.5 | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 35.8 | +0.8% |
| 2010 | 36.3 | +1.4% |
| 2015 | 37.2 | +2.5% |
| 2020 | 38 | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 38.4 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 38.6 | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 39 | +1.0% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 39 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 36.8, 1.1× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 39 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 15.9, 2.5× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 35.33 | 34.7 | 35.8 | 3 |
| 2010s | 36.75 | 36.3 | 37.2 | 2 |
| 2020s | 38.5 | 38 | 39 | 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)
- Un projection of annual infant deaths 3,333 (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)
- Population ages 00-04, male, per capita 0.046 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of men who are smoking in South Africa?
- Share of men who are smoking in South Africa was 39 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of men who are smoking recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 39 in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of men who are smoking recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.7 in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for share of men who are smoking?
- South Africa ranks 42nd out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of men who are smoking rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 4.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Share of men who are smoking. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).