Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in South Korea
South Korea: Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco was 18.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in South Korea, 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 South Korea is 18.6%, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is down 2.1% on the previous year and down 21.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in South Korea peaked at 35.5% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 18.6%, in 2024.
South Korea ranks 86th of 167 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in South Korea, year by year
| Year | % of adults | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 35.5% | — |
| 2005 | 30.9% | -13.0% |
| 2007 | 29.4% | -4.9% |
| 2010 | 27.0% | -8.2% |
| 2015 | 23.6% | -12.6% |
| 2020 | 20.6% | -12.7% |
| 2022 | 19.6% | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 19.0% | -3.1% |
| 2024 | 18.6% | -2.1% |
South Korea compared with similar countries
- South Korea's 18.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 21.2%, 88% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- South Korea's 18.6% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 23.1%, 81% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 31.9% | 29.4% | 35.5% | 3 |
| 2010s | 25.3% | 23.6% | 27.0% | 2 |
| 2020s | 19.5% | 18.6% | 20.6% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More reference data data for South Korea
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 0.9638 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 0.9281 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 0.2074 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 3.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 3.23 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 4.37 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 5.17 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 19.85 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 1.13 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in South Korea?
- Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in South Korea was 18.6% 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 South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 35.5% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 18.6% in 2024.
- How does South Korea rank for share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco?
- South Korea ranks 86th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 21.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this South Korea 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.