Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco vs. GDP per capita in South Africa
South Africa: Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco vs. GDP per capita was 23.7% in 2024. ▬ Flat
Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, 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 vs. gdp per capita in South Africa is 23.7%, measured in 2024. That is the highest value across all 9 years on record.
The figure is up 0.4% on the previous year and up 2.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco vs. gdp per capita in South Africa peaked at 23.7% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 22.6%, in 2000.
South Africa ranks 56th of 167 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco vs. GDP per capita in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % of adults | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 22.6% | — |
| 2005 | 22.8% | +0.9% |
| 2007 | 22.8% | +0.0% |
| 2010 | 23.0% | +0.9% |
| 2015 | 23.2% | +0.9% |
| 2020 | 23.4% | +0.9% |
| 2022 | 23.5% | +0.4% |
| 2023 | 23.6% | +0.4% |
| 2024 | 23.7% | +0.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 22.7% | 22.6% | 22.8% | 3 |
| 2010s | 23.1% | 23.0% | 23.2% | 2 |
| 2020s | 23.6% | 23.4% | 23.7% | 4 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More economy & growth data for South Africa
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP 0.4836 Percent per annum (2029)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP 1.4 Percent per annum (2029)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps -4.01 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0094 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -61.95 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled -2.16 billion BoP, current US$ (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual -192.73 % change on previous year (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit -0.0051 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita -33.37 BoP, current US$ per person (2025)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 16.18 % change on previous year (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco vs. gdp per capita in South Africa?
- Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco vs. gdp per capita in South Africa was 23.7% 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 vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 23.7% in 2024.
- What is the lowest share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco vs. gdp per capita recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 22.6% in 2000.
- How does South Africa rank for share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco vs. gdp per capita?
- South Africa ranks 56th out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco vs. gdp per capita rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Africa 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 vs. GDP per capita. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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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.