Affordability of cigarettes in China
China: Affordability of cigarettes was 1.9% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Affordability of cigarettes in China, 2012–2022
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
The most recent figure for affordability of cigarettes in China is 1.9%, measured in 2022. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is down 11.8% on the previous year and down 30.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, affordability of cigarettes in China peaked at 2.7% in 2012 and was at its lowest, 1.9%, in 2022.
China ranks 140th of 176 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Affordability of cigarettes in China, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2.7% | — |
| 2014 | 2.5% | -7.5% |
| 2016 | 2.4% | -2.8% |
| 2018 | 2.2% | -10.0% |
| 2020 | 2.1% | -1.9% |
| 2022 | 1.9% | -11.8% |
China compared with similar countries
- China's 1.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.8%, 50% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- China's 1.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.2%, 36% of the median. (27 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 2.4% | 2.2% | 2.7% | 4 |
| 2020s | 2.0% | 1.9% | 2.1% | 2 |
Countries ranked near China
More reference data data for China
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 49.4 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 75.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 18.8 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 303.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 165.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 206.2 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 350.74 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,480 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 102.37 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is affordability of cigarettes in China?
- Affordability of cigarettes in China was 1.9% in 2022, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest affordability of cigarettes recorded in China?
- The highest recorded value was 2.7% in 2012.
- What is the lowest affordability of cigarettes recorded in China?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.9% in 2022.
- How does China rank for affordability of cigarettes?
- China ranks 140th out of 176 countries with data for 2022.
- Is affordability of cigarettes rising or falling in China?
- Over the last ten years it is down 30.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this China 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 Affordability of cigarettes. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Price of 100 packs of cigarettes as a share of GDP per capita. This price is based on the most-sold brand of cigarettes in a given country and includes taxes. Lower values indicate that cigarettes are more affordable.