Taxes as a share of cigarette price in South Africa
South Africa: Taxes as a share of cigarette price was 60.1% in 2022. ▲ Rising
Taxes as a share of cigarette price in South Africa, 2008–2022
Source: World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, taxes as a share of cigarette price in South Africa stood at 60.1%. That is the highest value across all 8 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 14.0% on the previous year and up 21.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, taxes as a share of cigarette price in South Africa peaked at 60.1% in 2022 and was at its lowest, 47.8%, in 2008.
South Africa ranks 82nd of 190 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Taxes as a share of cigarette price in South Africa, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 47.8% | — |
| 2010 | 48.3% | +0.9% |
| 2012 | 49.4% | +2.3% |
| 2014 | 48.8% | -1.1% |
| 2016 | 49.5% | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 54.6% | +10.2% |
| 2020 | 52.7% | -3.4% |
| 2022 | 60.1% | +14.0% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 47.8% | 47.8% | 47.8% | 1 |
| 2010s | 50.1% | 48.3% | 54.6% | 5 |
| 2020s | 56.4% | 52.7% | 60.1% | 2 |
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 taxes as a share of cigarette price in South Africa?
- Taxes as a share of cigarette price in South Africa was 60.1% in 2022, according to World Health Organization - Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest taxes as a share of cigarette price recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 60.1% in 2022.
- What is the lowest taxes as a share of cigarette price recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 47.8% in 2008.
- How does South Africa rank for taxes as a share of cigarette price?
- South Africa ranks 82nd out of 190 countries with data for 2022.
- Is taxes as a share of cigarette price rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 21.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 Taxes as a share of cigarette price. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 8 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Share of taxes on the retail price of a pack of cigarettes. This includes all taxes and is based on one pack (20 cigarettes) of the most sold brand in the country.