Share of women who are smoking in South Africa
South Africa: Share of women who are smoking was 8.5 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
8.5
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
72nd
of 167 countries
All-time high
10.5
in 2000
All-time low
8.5
in 2024
Years of data
9
2000–2024
Share of women who are smoking in South Africa, 2000–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2024, share of women who are smoking 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 are smoking 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 are smoking in South Africa, year by year
| Year | Value | 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% |
South Africa compared with similar countries
- South Africa's 8.5 is above the median for upper middle income countries, which is 4.9, 1.7× the median. (51 countries reporting)
- South Africa's 8.5 is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 2.4, 3.5× the median. (39 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 10.17 | 9.9 | 10.5 | 3 |
| 2010s | 9.4 | 9.2 | 9.6 | 2 |
| 2020s | 8.65 | 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)
- 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 women who are smoking in South Africa?
- Share of women who are smoking in South Africa was 8.5 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of women who are smoking recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 10.5 in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of women who are smoking recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 8.5 in 2024.
- How does South Africa rank for share of women who are smoking?
- South Africa ranks 72nd out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of women who are smoking 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 Our World in Data, published as part of Share of women 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).