Affordability of cigarettes in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Affordability of cigarettes was 2.8% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Affordability of cigarettes in United Kingdom, 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 United Kingdom is 2.8%, measured in 2022.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 4.8% on the previous year and up 13.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, affordability of cigarettes in United Kingdom peaked at 2.9% in 2020 and was at its lowest, 2.4%, in 2012.
That places United Kingdom 107th out of 176 countries with data for 2022, putting it in the middle of the range.
Affordability of cigarettes in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 2.4% | — |
| 2014 | 2.6% | +6.1% |
| 2016 | 2.7% | +4.2% |
| 2018 | 2.5% | -5.9% |
| 2020 | 2.9% | +14.2% |
| 2022 | 2.8% | -4.8% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 2.8% is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.9%, 1.4× the median. (59 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 2.8% is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 1.9%, 1.4× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 2.6% | 2.4% | 2.7% | 4 |
| 2020s | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.9% | 2 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 104 North Macedonia 2.9% compare
- 105 Montenegro 2.9% compare
- 106 Cambodia 2.8% compare
- 107 Egypt 2.8% compare
- 109 Colombia 2.7% compare
- 110 Saudi Arabia 2.7% compare
- 110 Thailand 2.7% compare
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.13 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 3.97 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.01 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 13.26 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 10.5 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.51 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 15.81 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 59.34 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 5.48 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is affordability of cigarettes in United Kingdom?
- Affordability of cigarettes in United Kingdom was 2.8% 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 United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 2.9% in 2020.
- What is the lowest affordability of cigarettes recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 2.4% in 2012.
- How does United Kingdom rank for affordability of cigarettes?
- United Kingdom ranks 107th out of 176 countries with data for 2022.
- Is affordability of cigarettes rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is up 13.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United Kingdom 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.