Share of men who smoke or use other tobacco in South Africa
South Africa: Share of men who smoke or use other tobacco was 39.0% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Share of men who smoke or use other tobacco in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of male adults.
Analysis
South Africa recorded 39.0% for share of men who smoke or use other tobacco 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 smoke or use other tobacco in South Africa peaked at 39.0% 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 smoke or use other tobacco in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of male adults | 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 | 38.0% | +2.2% |
| 2022 | 38.4% | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 38.6% | +0.5% |
| 2024 | 39.0% | +1.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 35.3% | 34.7% | 35.8% | 3 |
| 2010s | 36.8% | 36.3% | 37.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 38.5% | 38.0% | 39.0% | 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)
- Population ages 65-69, male, annual growth rate 2.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 65-69, male, per capita 0.0116 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, annual growth rate 4.91 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 70-74, female, per capita 0.0115 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of men who smoke or use other tobacco in South Africa?
- Share of men who smoke or use other tobacco in South Africa was 39.0% in 2024, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of men who smoke or use other tobacco recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 39.0% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of men who smoke or use other tobacco recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 34.7% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for share of men who smoke or use other tobacco?
- South Africa ranks 42nd out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of men who smoke or use other tobacco 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 World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of men who smoke or use other tobacco. 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).
About this data
Estimated percentage of male adults (15 years and older) who currently use tobacco. This includes all forms of tobacco use, such as smoking, chewing or snuffing, but excludes products that do not contain tobacco, such as e-cigarettes.