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Prevalence of Tobacco Use
in Kenya

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Between 2014 and 2022, the prevalence of tobacco use (smokeless and smoked tobacco) among adults aged 15-65 years decreased from 11.6% (2.5 million users)

to 8.5% (2.3 million users).

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During the same period, the overall prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults aged 15-49 years decreased from 8.1% to 5% and that of smokeless tobacco decreased from 1.4% to 1.3%

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Cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco products. Between 2014 and 2022, the prevalence of cigarette smoking among men aged 15-49 years dropped from 15.8% to 9.3%.

For women, this prevalence increased from 0.4% to 0.7%.

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Tobacco use increases with age and is more common among those with primary education or no education. Eleven out of the 47 counties have prevalence of tobacco use exceeding 10%.

This page provides insights into the current prevalence of tobacco use by different sub-groups in the country. Current prevalence is defined as tobacco use in the past 30 days.

The insights are derived from the Kenya Demographic Health Surveys (DHSs) of 2014 and 2022, the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) of 2014, the Tobacco Alcohol and Drug Abuse Survey (TADSAS) of 2022, the National Agency for the Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NACADA) 2019 survey on substance use among primary school pupils in Kenya, and the Global Youth Tobacco Surveys (GYTSs) of 2007 and 2013.

In 2022, 8.5% of Kenyans (2.3 million people) aged 15 to 65 years used any tobacco products (smoked and smokeless).

This was down from 11.6% (2.5 million users) in 2014.


Prevalence of tobacco use among adults 15-65 years: 2014 - 2022


20142022Year0%2%4%6%8%10%12%14%16%18%20%Prevalence4.5%2.0%19.1%16.4%11.6%8.5%

Source: TCDI representation using Kenya GATS (2014) and TADSAS (2022)


The prevalence of use of any tobacco products among men aged 15 to 65 years decreased from 19.1% in 2014 to 16.4% in 2022 (Figure 1). Because of population growth during this period, the number of any tobacco users remained fixed at about 2.0 million men. For women, the prevalence of use of any tobacco product decreased from 4.5% (0.5 million users) to 2.0% (0.3 million users). This gender disparity is common globally and reflects social traditions about smoking.

Both non-smokers and current smokers were similarly aware of the harmful effects of smoking, with 92% of non-smokers and 89% of current smokers recognizing that smoking causes severe illnesses.


The overall prevalence of different tobacco products: 2014 - 2022


201420220%2%4%6%8%Prevalence8.1%5.0%1.4%1.3%

Source: TCDI representation using Kenya DHS (2014 & 2022)


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Trends in Cigarette Smoking


The overall cigarette smoking among Kenyans aged 15-49 decreased from 8.1% (in 2014) to 5.0% (in 2022).


Trends in cigarette smoking among adults aged 15-49 years


20142022Year0%5%10%15%Prevalence (%)0.4%0.7%15.8%9.3%8.1%5.0%

Source: TCDI representation using Kenya DHS (2014 & 2022)


Between 2014 and 2022,  cigarette smoking prevalence dropped (from 15.8% to 9.3%) among men and increased (from 0.4% to 0.9%) among women.


Prevalence of manufactured and RYO cigarettes among men in 2022


15-1920-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-49Total0%5%10%15%20%Prevalence0.7%4.5%7.2%13.0%16.1%18.3%22.3%9.3%0.7%2.9%5.3%9.6%12.2%15.1%18.4%7.2%

Source: TCDI representation using Kenya DHS (2022)


In 2022, more men than women used different tobacco products, with manufactured cigarettes having the highest prevalence rate of 9.3% among men compared to 0.7% among women.

Except for adolescents [i.e., 15-19 years age group], most men who smoked cigarettes preferred manufactured cigarettes over RYO cigarettes.

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Trends in Smokeless Tobacco Use


Between 2014 and 2022 the overall prevalence of smokeless tobacco use decreased slightly from 1.4% (in 2014) to 1.3% (in 2022). In absolute numbers, this prevalence corresponds to 0.32 million users in 2014 and 0.35 million users in 2022. The overall number of smokeless tobacco users, particularly male users, went up due to population growth during this period.


Trends in smokeless tobacco use among adults aged 15-49 years


20142022Year0%1%1%2%2%Prevalence (%)0.9%0.6%1.9%2.0%1.4%1.3%

Source: TCDI representation using Kenya DHS (2014 & 2022)


The overall number of smokeless tobacco users, particularly male users, went up due to population growth during this period. The prevalence of smokeless tobacco use among men went up from 1.9% to 2.0%, while that of women women went down from 0.9% to 0.6%


Prevalence of Tobacco Use by County by Gender, 2022


  • Tobacco Prevalence|
  • 0% - 8.7%
  • 8.8% - 17.5%
  • 17.6% - 26.3%
  • 26.4% - 35.2%
  • |
    Angola
    Burundi
    Benin
    Burkina Faso
    Botswana
    Central African Republic
    Côte d'Ivoire
    Cameroon
    DRC
    Rep. of Congo
    Comoros
    Cabo Verde
    Djibouti
    Algeria
    Egypt
    Eritrea
    Ethiopia
    Gabon
    Ghana
    Guinea
    Gambia
    Guinea-Bissau
    Equatorial Guinea
    Kenya
    Liberia
    Libya
    Lesotho
    Morocco
    Madagascar
    Mali
    Mozambique
    Mauritania
    Malawi
    Namibia
    Niger
    Nigeria
    Rwanda
    Western Sahara
    Sudan
    South Sudan
    Senegal
    Saint Helena
    Sierra Leone
    Somalia
    Sao Tome and Principe
    Eswatini
    Chad
    Togo
    Tunisia
    Tanzania
    Uganda
    South Africa
    Zambia
    Zimbabwe
    Kirinyaga
    Nyandarua
    Nyeri
    Kilifi
    Kwale
    Lamu
    Mombasa
    Taita-Taveta
    Tana River
    Embu
    Isiolo
    Kitui
    Machakos
    Makueni
    Marsabit
    Meru
    Tharaka-Nithi
    Wajir
    Nairobi
    Garissa
    Mandera
    Wajir
    Homa Bay
    Kisii
    Kisumu
    Migori
    Nyamira
    Siaya
    Baringo
    Bomet
    Elgeyo-Marakwet
    Kericho
    Laikipia
    Kajiado
    Nandi
    Narok
    Samburu
    Trans-Nzoia
    Turkana
    Uasin Gishu
    West Pokot
    Bungoma
    Busia
    Kakamega
    Vihiga
    Murang'a
    Kiambu
    Nakuru

    Tobacco Growing Counties: Bungoma, Busia, Embu, Homa Bay, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Kitui, Machakos, Meru, Migori, Murang’a

    Source: Kenya DHS (2022)