Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Malaysia

Malaysia: Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco was 16.9% in 2024. ▼ Falling

Latest (2024)
16.9%
World rank
96th
of 170 countries
All-time high
27.6%
in 2000
All-time low
16.9%
in 2024
Years of data
7
2000–2024

Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Malaysia, 2000–2024

01020302000201220242000: 27.6 %2005: 24.5 %2010: 22 %2015: 19.7 %2020: 18 %2022: 22 %2024: 16.9 %

Source: World Health Organization – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.

Analysis

In 2024, share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Malaysia stood at 16.9%. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is down 14.2% over ten years.

Over the whole period, share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Malaysia peaked at 27.6% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 16.9%, in 2024.

Malaysia ranks 96th of 170 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.

Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Malaysia, year by year

Annual values for Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Malaysia, 2000 to 2024.
Year % Change
2000 27.6% —
2005 24.5% -11.2%
2010 22.0% -10.2%
2015 19.7% -10.5%
2020 18.0% -8.6%
2022 22.0% +22.2%
2024 16.9% -23.2%

Malaysia compared with similar countries

  • Malaysia's 16.9% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 21.1%, 80% of the median. (52 countries reporting)
  • Malaysia's 16.9% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 23.1%, 73% of the median. (29 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
2000s 26.1% 24.5% 27.6% 2
2010s 20.9% 19.7% 22.0% 2
2020s 19.0% 16.9% 22.0% 3

Countries ranked near Malaysia

  1. 93 Japan 17.5% compare
  2. 94 Bahamas 17.3% compare
  3. 94 Seychelles 17.3% compare
  4. 97 Uzbekistan 16.3% compare
  5. 98 Congo 16.2% compare
  6. 99 Cuba 16.1% compare

See the full ranking of 170 places →

More reference data data for Malaysia

All data for Malaysia →

Frequently asked questions

What is share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Malaysia?
Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Malaysia was 16.9% in 2024, according to World Health Organization – processed by Our World in Data.
What is the highest share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco recorded in Malaysia?
The highest recorded value was 27.6% in 2000.
What is the lowest share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco recorded in Malaysia?
The lowest recorded value was 16.9% in 2024.
How does Malaysia rank for share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco?
Malaysia ranks 96th out of 170 countries with data for 2024.
Is share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco rising or falling in Malaysia?
Over the last ten years it is down 14.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
Where does this Malaysia data come from?
The figures come from World Health Organization – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Malaysia. Statizoid, drawing on World Health Organization – processed by Our World in Data. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/prevalence-of-tobacco-use-sdgs/malaysia/

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About this data

Indicator
Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco
Unit
%
Source
World Health Organization – processed by Our World in Data
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data)
Coverage
170 places, 1,020 data points, 2000–2024
Last refreshed

Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged 15 years and older, by sex (%).