Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in India
India: Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco was 22.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in India, 2000–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of adults.
Analysis
The most recent figure for share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in India is 22.6%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.8% on the previous year and down 28.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in India peaked at 55.7% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 22.6%, in 2024.
That places India 64th out of 167 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in India, year by year
| Year | % of adults | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 55.7% | — |
| 2005 | 46.7% | -16.2% |
| 2007 | 43.1% | -7.7% |
| 2010 | 38.5% | -10.7% |
| 2015 | 31.6% | -17.9% |
| 2020 | 26.2% | -17.1% |
| 2022 | 24.4% | -6.9% |
| 2023 | 23.5% | -3.7% |
| 2024 | 22.6% | -3.8% |
India compared with similar countries
- India's 22.6% is above the median for lower middle income countries, which is 16.2%, 1.4× the median. (40 countries reporting)
- India's 22.6% is below the median for South Asia, which is 24.1%, 94% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 48.5% | 43.1% | 55.7% | 3 |
| 2010s | 35.0% | 31.6% | 38.5% | 2 |
| 2020s | 24.2% | 22.6% | 26.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near India
More reference data data for India
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 20.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 68.88 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 15.62 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 246.78 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 70.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 19.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 309.05 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 1,063 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 85.03 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in India?
- Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in India was 22.6% in 2024, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco recorded in India?
- The highest recorded value was 55.7% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco recorded in India?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.6% in 2024.
- How does India rank for share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco?
- India ranks 64th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco rising or falling in India?
- Over the last ten years it is down 28.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this India 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 Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated percentage of adults (15 years and older) who currently use tobacco. This includes all forms of tobacco use, such as smoking, chewing or snuffing, but excludes products that do not contain tobacco, such as e-cigarettes.