Estimate of current tobacco use prevalence (%) in South Africa

South Africa: Estimate of current tobacco use prevalence (%) was 24.1% in 2030. ▲ Rising

Latest (2030)
24.1%
World rank
45th
of 167 countries
All-time high
24.1%
in 2030
All-time low
22.6%
in 2000
Years of data
11
2000–2030

Estimate of current tobacco use prevalence (%) in South Africa, 2000–2030

05101520252000201520302000: 22.62005: 22.82007: 22.82010: 232015: 23.22020: 23.42022: 23.52023: 23.62024: 23.72025: 23.62030: 24.1

Source: World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.

Analysis

In 2030, estimate of current tobacco use prevalence (%) in South Africa stood at 24.1%. That is the highest value across all 11 years on record.

That represents a change of up 3.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, estimate of current tobacco use prevalence (%) in South Africa peaked at 24.1% in 2030 and was at its lowest, 22.6%, in 2000.

That places South Africa 45th out of 167 countries with data for 2030, putting it in the middle of the range.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 11 years of available data.

Estimate of current tobacco use prevalence (%) in South Africa, year by year

Annual values for Estimate of current tobacco use prevalence (%) (age-standardized) in South Africa, 2000 to 2030.
Year Value Change
2000 22.6%
2005 22.8% +0.9%
2007 22.8% +0.0%
2010 23.0% +0.9%
2015 23.2% +0.9%
2020 23.4% +0.9%
2022 23.5% +0.4%
2023 23.6% +0.4%
2024 23.7% +0.4%
2025 23.6% -0.4%
2030 24.1% +2.1%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 22.7% 22.6% 22.8% 3
2010s 23.1% 23.0% 23.2% 2
2020s 23.6% 23.4% 23.7% 5
2030s 24.1% 24.1% 24.1% 1

Countries ranked near South Africa

  1. 42 Russian Federation 24.7% compare
  2. 43 Armenia 24.5% compare
  3. 43 Nepal 24.5% compare
  4. 46 Fiji 23.9% compare
  5. 47 Luxembourg 23.8% compare
  6. 48 Algeria 23.7% compare

See the full ranking of 175 places →

More social development data for South Africa

All data for South Africa →

Frequently asked questions

What is estimate of current tobacco use prevalence (%) in South Africa?
Estimate of current tobacco use prevalence (%) in South Africa was 24.1% in 2030, according to World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory.
What is the highest estimate of current tobacco use prevalence (%) recorded in South Africa?
The highest recorded value was 24.1% in 2030.
What is the lowest estimate of current tobacco use prevalence (%) recorded in South Africa?
The lowest recorded value was 22.6% in 2000.
How does South Africa rank for estimate of current tobacco use prevalence (%)?
South Africa ranks 45th out of 167 countries with data for 2030.
Is estimate of current tobacco use prevalence (%) rising or falling in South Africa?
Over the last ten years it is up 3.0%. 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, published as part of Estimate of current tobacco use prevalence (%) (age-standardized). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Estimate of current tobacco use prevalence (%) in South Africa. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory. Retrieved 04 September 2026, from https://social-development.statizoid.com/stat/estimate-of-current-tobacco-use-prevalence-percent-age-standardized/south-africa/

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About this data

Indicator
Estimate of current tobacco use prevalence (%) (age-standardized)
Source
World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory
Licence
CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO (WHO)
Coverage
175 places, 1,925 data points, 2000–2030
Last refreshed