Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Zambia
Zambia: Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco was 14.3% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Zambia, 2000–2024
Source: World Health Organization – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
Zambia recorded 14.3% for share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 7 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Zambia peaked at 19.8% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 14.3%, in 2024.
That places Zambia 107th out of 170 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Zambia, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 19.8% | — |
| 2005 | 18.3% | -7.6% |
| 2010 | 17.0% | -7.1% |
| 2015 | 15.9% | -6.5% |
| 2020 | 14.9% | -6.3% |
| 2022 | 14.6% | -2.0% |
| 2024 | 14.3% | -2.1% |
Zambia compared with similar countries
- Zambia's 14.3% is below the median for lower middle income countries, which is 15.2%, 94% of the median. (40 countries reporting)
- Zambia's 14.3% is above the median for Sub-Saharan Africa, which is 10.0%, 1.4× the median. (40 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 19.1% | 18.3% | 19.8% | 2 |
| 2010s | 16.4% | 15.9% | 17.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 14.6% | 14.3% | 14.9% | 3 |
Countries ranked near Zambia
More reference data data for Zambia
- Exchange rate, new LCU per USD extended backward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Exchange rate, old LCU per USD extended forward, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Official exchange rate, LCU per USD, period average 18.94 (2026)
- Political opposition, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Elected parliament and government, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Global number of reported disasters by size, gaps filled 0 events (2025)
- Annual precipitation, annual growth rate 40.84 % change on previous year (2025)
- Free country, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, gaps filled 4 (2025)
- Civil liberties rating, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Zambia?
- Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Zambia was 14.3% 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 Zambia?
- The highest recorded value was 19.8% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco recorded in Zambia?
- The lowest recorded value was 14.3% in 2024.
- How does Zambia rank for share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco?
- Zambia ranks 107th out of 170 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco rising or falling in Zambia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Zambia 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.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 7 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged 15 years and older, by sex (%).