Share of women who smoke or use other tobacco in South Africa
South Africa: Share of women who smoke or use other tobacco was 8.5% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of women 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 female adults.
Analysis
In 2024, share of women who smoke or use other tobacco in South Africa stood at 8.5%. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 7.6% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of women who smoke or use other tobacco in South Africa peaked at 10.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 8.5%, in 2024.
South Africa ranks 72nd of 167 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of women who smoke or use other tobacco in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of female adults | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 10.5% | — |
| 2005 | 10.1% | -3.8% |
| 2007 | 9.9% | -2.0% |
| 2010 | 9.6% | -3.0% |
| 2015 | 9.2% | -4.2% |
| 2020 | 8.8% | -4.3% |
| 2022 | 8.7% | -1.1% |
| 2023 | 8.6% | -1.1% |
| 2024 | 8.5% | -1.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.2% | 9.9% | 10.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 9.4% | 9.2% | 9.6% | 2 |
| 2020s | 8.7% | 8.5% | 8.8% | 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 40-44, male, annual growth rate 3.07 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 40-44, male, per capita 0.0371 units per person (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, annual growth rate 4.05 % change on previous year (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Population ages 45-49, female, per capita 0.0295 units per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of women who smoke or use other tobacco in South Africa?
- Share of women who smoke or use other tobacco in South Africa was 8.5% 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 women who smoke or use other tobacco recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 10.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of women who smoke or use other tobacco recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.5% in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for share of women who smoke or use other tobacco?
- South Africa ranks 72nd out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of women who smoke or use other tobacco rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is down 7.6%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- 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 women 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 female 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.