Smoking in Senegal
In Senegal, cigarettes are legal to sell, smoke, and import for trade with certain restrictions in place. Tobacco advertising is regulated and there is a complete ban on all forms of advertising. The product is also accessible through vending machines. The law mandates health warnings on all tobacco packaging and enforces a minimum sales age of 18 years. Additionally, smoking is legally restricted in public places such as healthcare and educational facilities. There is no specific excise tax on cigarettes, but the total taxation rate is 48.64%. The current prevalence of tobacco smoking among adults aged 15 years and older, as of 2024, was recorded to be 5.1% in Senegal, with a notable gender disparity. Among adult males, the current smoking prevalence was higher with 9.6%, while adult females had a significantly lower smoking prevalence of 0.6%. In comparison, the overall adult smoking prevalence in 2020 was 5.5%, with a prevalence of 11.1% and 0.5% among males and females, respectively. The total number of smokers in 2024 was estimated to be 580,000 individuals, which marks an increase from 507,888 individuals in 2020. Smoking-related mortality data from 2021 indicate that smoking led to 2.85% of all deaths in Senegal, with 3.92% of male deaths and 1.51% of female deaths. The annual number of smoking-related deaths in 2021 was 3,171, consisting of 2,429 male deaths and 742 female deaths. These statistics underscore the ongoing public health challenge posed by tobacco smoking in Senegal, necessitating continued regulatory and health interventions to reduce its health impacts.
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August 15, 2025 by prnewswire.com
Senegal's Prime Minister Moves to Increase Tobacco Taxes to Save Lives, Stimulate Economic Growth
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids applauds Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko's announcement that the country will raise taxes on tobacco products to save lives and stimulate the economy. Increasing taxes on tobacco products is a smart move, a huge win for public health and a popular policy initiative.