Top 10 Countries with the highest percentage of smokers in the world – Countries with highest smokers
According to the World Health Organization, tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease worldwide, killing over 8 million people each year. While smoking rates have declined in many countries in recent years, there are still some countries where the percentage of smokers is relatively high. Here are the top 10 countries with the highest percentage of smokers in the world by Top10theworld.com.
Top 10 Countries with the highest percentage of smokers in the world
- Nauru – 52.10%
- Kiribati – 52.00%
- Tuvalu – 48.70%
- Myanmar – 45.50%
- Chile – 44.70%
- Lebanon – 42.60%
- Serbia – 40.60%
- Bangladesh – 39.10%
- Greece – 39.10%
- Bulgaria – 38.90%
Definition of smoking and tobacco use
Smoking is the act of inhaling and exhaling the smoke of burning tobacco, which is a plant native to the Americas and widely cultivated around the world. The smoke produced by smoking tobacco contains a variety of toxic chemicals that can be harmful to both the smoker and those exposed to secondhand smoke.
Tobacco use refers to the consumption of tobacco products, which includes smoking as well as the use of smokeless tobacco products such as chewing tobacco, snuff, and dipping tobacco. These products also contain toxic chemicals that can cause serious health problems, including cancer, heart disease, and respiratory diseases.
Tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable death and disease worldwide, and is responsible for millions of deaths each year. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that tobacco use causes about 8 million deaths each year, and this number is expected to rise to about 10 million deaths per year by 2030 unless effective action is taken to reduce tobacco consumption.
Importance of identifying countries with high rates of smoking
There are several reasons why it is important to identify countries with high rates of smoking:
- Public health: High rates of smoking can have serious negative consequences for public health, as tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable death and disease worldwide. Identifying countries with high rates of smoking can help public health officials and policymakers focus their efforts on addressing this major public health problem.
- Economic costs: Smoking can also have significant economic costs, including the cost of treating tobacco-related illnesses and the impact on productivity due to lost work days. Identifying countries with high rates of smoking can help policymakers understand the economic impact of tobacco use and take steps to mitigate these costs.
- Policy development: Identifying countries with high rates of smoking can also help policymakers develop targeted tobacco control policies that are tailored to the specific needs and circumstances of these countries. This can include measures such as increasing taxes on tobacco products, implementing bans on smoking in public places, and providing support for smoking cessation programs.
Overall, identifying countries with high rates of smoking is important for understanding the impact of tobacco use on public health and the economy, and for developing effective policies to reduce smoking rates and improve the health of populations around the world.
Top 10 Countries with the highest percentage of smokers in the world
Nauru
First of list Top 10 Countries with the highest percentage of smokers in the world is Nauru. Nauru is a small island country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) south of the equator. It is located just east of the Federated States of Micronesia, north of Papua New Guinea, and west of Kiribati. Nauru is the smallest island nation in the world by both land area and population. It is one of three countries that make up the Nauru Triangle, which also includes Kiribati and Tuvalu.
With a population of about 10,000 people. Nauru has a high rate of type 2 diabetes, heart and kidney disease, as well as a high percentage of smokers (52,1%). The rate of smokers in this country is at a seriously alarming level.
Kiribati
Another republic nation, located in Oceania – Kiribati – Top 10 Countries with the highest percentage of smokers in the world. According to estimates from the World Bank, the population of Kiribati as of 2021 is around 119,000. Kiribati is a small country made up of 33 coral atolls and reef islands scattered over a vast area of the central Pacific Ocean. The majority of the population is concentrated on the three main atolls of South Tarawa, North Tarawa, and Betio.
The population of Kiribati is relatively small and is primarily concentrated in urban areas. The capital city, South Tarawa, is the largest urban center in the country, with a population of around 60,000. However, the smoking rate as of 2022 is more than half of the adult population, which is staggering (52,0%).
Tuvalu
Tuvalu – “Top 10 Countries with the highest percentage of smokers in the world” is a small island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, north of Fiji and east of Australia. It is made up of four reef islands and five true atolls. The population of Tuvalu is estimated to be around 12,000. Like many small island nations, Tuvalu faces a number of challenges, including the impact of climate change, limited natural resources, and a fragile economy. These challenges may affect the health and well-being of the population, including the prevalence of smoking and other risk factors for poor health.
According to the WHO report, the smoking rate in this country is 48.7%. The highest cause of death in this country is heart disease, followed by high blood pressure, and with such a high smoking rate, that can only make matters worse.
Myanmar
Next name in Top 10 Countries with the highest percentage of smokers in the world is Myanmar, also known as Burma, is a country located in Southeast Asia. According to estimates from the World Bank, the population of Myanmar as of 2021 is around 54 million. Myanmar is a large and populous country, with a population that is growing at a relatively rapid rate. The country is diverse, with more than 100 different ethnic groups and many different languages spoken.
This is the largest country in Asia with a population of 54 million as of 2017. With a smoking rate of 45.5%, this is a large number of smokers in Myanmar. Along with the escalating political instability, Myanmar seems to be falling into a real crisis. The government needs to take measures to limit smoking and improve people’s quality of life.
Chile
Chile is a country located along the coast of South America with a harsh climate. Chile’s population is 19.21 million (2021). However, nearly half of Chile’s population regularly uses tobacco. With 44.7% of adults smoking (2022), this is a record high for this country. In addition to respiratory diseases, the quality of life is not guaranteed, causing the average life expectancy of Chile to show signs of decline.
Lebanon
The smoking rate in Lebanon reaches a high of 42.6% among adults, which makes Lebanon in the Top 10 Countries with the highest percentage of smokers in the world. The alarming thing is that this number has steadily increased over the years. The percentage of youth under the age of 15 using tobacco has also increased to a record number. This alarming situation seems to be happening every year according to the figures from 2000 to the present, but the country has not taken any drastic measures to reduce this situation at all.
Serbia
Serbia is a country located in the Balkan region of Europe. It is bordered by Kosovo to the south, Montenegro to the southwest, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the west, Hungary to the north, Romania to the northeast, and Bulgaria to the east. The capital of Serbia is Belgrade, which is also the largest city in the country.
With a population of about 6.8 million, the smokers rate puts 40.6% of the total adult population as an excessive number. As early as 2010, tough government measures were introduced to reduce smoking, but it did not seem to have much effect.
Bangladesh
This country located in South Asia has a population of about 168 million, but with a smoking rate of 39.1% of the total population, this number is frighteningly high. Respiratory, cardiovascular, and cancer diseases often visit people here, but they seem to have no fear.
Although the law banning smoking (2005) and banning smoking in public places (2005) have been enacted, this does not seem to have much effect on them. The rate of adult smoking has reached a record number, leaving Bangladesh’s health system in a constant state of overdrive. The country being named in the Top 10 Countries with the highest percentage of smokers in the world is alarming.
Greece
The next name in the Top 10 Countries with the highest percentage of smokers in the world is Greece. Contrary to the trend that countries with high smoking rates are often located in areas with less developed economies, Greece is an exception. As a country in the European Union (EU), the smoking rate in Greece is 39.1% – in the Top 10 Countries with the highest percentage of smokers in the world.
Experiencing an economic crisis, but years ago, combined with the heavy impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the situation of this country’s health system became exhausted. The number of smokers is constantly increasing despite the government’s ban. The number of children affected by secondhand smoke with respiratory diseases is increasing. Surely Greece will have to find a solution to this dilemma.
Bulgaria
Last on the list of Top 10 Countries with the highest percentage of smokers in the world is Bulgaria. As early as 2012, Bulgaria, the second largest tobacco consumer in Europe, was forced to introduce a smoking ban in closed public places. However, it does not seem to be possible to completely ban tobacco use here. The rate of smokers in 2022 reaches 38.9% is frighteningly high. The rate of people dying from tobacco-related problems in 2019 was 299/100,000 people. This shows the government’s laxity, the lack of focus on the health problems that remain in this country.
In conclusion, the top 10 countries with the highest percentage of smokers in the world have a significant number of individuals who use tobacco regularly. This puts them at higher risk for a variety of smoking-related diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illness.
While some of these countries have implemented policies and programs to reduce smoking rates, there is still much work to be done to address this major public health issue. It is important for these countries, and all countries, to continue to develop and implement effective strategies to reduce tobacco use and promote the health and well-being of their populations.