Smoking in Cambodia
In Cambodia, the prevalence of tobacco smoking among adults remains a significant public health concern. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) 2024 estimates, the current prevalence of smoking among adults aged 15 years and older was 14.1%. Breaking this down by gender, 27.3% of males and 1.8% of females were reported as current smokers. This marks a slight decrease in prevalence among males from 28.0% in 2020 and a more notable decline from 32.3% in 2019. The total number of adult tobacco smokers in 2024 was approximately 1,7 million which shows a decrease from 1,9 million in 2019. The adult daily smoking prevalence in 2017 was 15.5%, with a prevalence of 30.4% among males and 1.9% among females. The health impact of smoking in Cambodia is significant. In 2021, 13.43% of all deaths were attributed to tobacco smoking. This percentage includes 20.01% of all male deaths and 6.23% of all female deaths in the country. In terms of absolute number, in 2021, the total number of smoking-related deaths was 17,306, comprising 13,474 male and 3,832 female deaths. These figures highlight the ongoing challenge Cambodia faces in reducing tobacco smoking and its associated health impacts.
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October 23, 2025 by asianews.network
Cambodia introduces new anti-vape measures
Cambodia's government has imposed strict measures to ban the import, sale, and use of vapes and shishas to safeguard public health. The prohibition, driven by Prime Minister Hun Manet's order, aims to protect youth from the dangers associated with heated tobacco products. Various ministries have been instructed to enforce the ban, with penalties for violators including warnings, confiscation of devices, and suspension of commercial licenses. Educational institutions are also mandated to educate and prevent the use of such products on their premises. The goal is to curb the potential gateway effect of vaping devices to illicit drug use in the country.
October 23, 2025 by tobaccoreporter.com
Cambodia Reinforces Ban on E-Cigarettes and Shisha
Cambodia has banned e-cigarettes and shisha pipes to protect public health and social order. Prime Minister Hun Manet issued the directive due to their popularity among youths, posing health and social threats. The ban covers import, distribution, sale, use, and possession, with strict regulations around schools, community centers, and sports facilities. Previous restrictions were in place since 2014 due to health risks, including high nicotine levels in e-cigarettes and toxins in shisha.
May 14, 2025 by khmertimeskh.com
Cambodian PM reaffirms ban on e-cigarette investment
Prime Minister Hun Manet reaffirmed that Cambodia does not welcome investment in e-cigarettes. The statement was made yesterday during a meeting with Barros Figueira Miguel, President of the Association of Tobacco Industry of Cambodia (ATIC), at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh. During the meeting, Miguel briefed the premier on ATIC’s activities, including its contribution to Cambodia’s socio-economic development by creating over 4,500 local jobs and providing clean water equipment, computers, and so on.
May 14, 2025 by thestar.com.my
Cambodian PM reiterates ban on investment in e-cigarette production
Cambodian PM Hun Manet stated that e-cigarette production won't be allowed in Cambodia due to health concerns, reaffirming the ban on e-cigarettes and shisha since 2014. The government focuses on preventing illegal tobacco product imports, raising awareness of smoking's health risks. The Ministry of Health warns about e-cigarettes' nicotine content, leading to severe health issues like lung disease and cancer. The PM's decision comes after reports of illegal e-cigarette sales despite the existing ban. Hun Manet's stance aims to protect the public from harmful effects associated with smoking and vaping.
November 06, 2024 by scmp.com
Cambodia announces ban on smoking shisha and e-cigarettes
Cambodia has imposed a ban on e-cigarettes and shisha pipes, citing concerns over their high nicotine content and their influence on youth smoking. The National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) has directed authorities to halt the import, sale, and use of these products nationwide. Although e-cigarettes and shisha are not classified as drugs, the NACD stated that their nicotine levels pose a greater health risk than traditional cigarettes.
February 05, 2024 by thesun.my
Cambodia warns of serious effects from smoking e-cigarettes, shisha, heated tobacco products
Cambodia’s Ministry of Health warned on Sunday that e-cigarettes, shisha and heated tobacco products (HTPs) have caused serious effects on users’ health, urging people, especially youth, not to try these products. “The Ministry of Health is very concerned that most e-cigarettes, shisha and HTPs are beautifully designed, attractive to young people to try,“ the ministry said in a statement. “In fact, e-cigarettes, shisha and HTPs have really caused hazards to health and society,“ it said.
March 26, 2021 by filtermag.org
Cambodia Issues Asia’s Latest Nicotine Prohibition
On March 23, Cambodia issued a ban on heated tobacco products (HTPs). The move [...] was announced by the National Authority of Combating Drugs.
Confusingly, the directive also prohibits electronic nicotine delivery systems like vaping products—while making the unfounded assertions that these device don’t help people to stop smoking and are not safer than conventional cigarettes. This comes despite the fact that consumption and sales of shisha and e-cigarettes have already been prohibited since 2014. Some local reports suggest that vapes remain available and that the ban has so far been widely ignored.
March 22, 2021 by phnompenhpost.com
New tobacco device banned
The National Authority for Combating Drugs (NACD) has instructed all relevant ministries and institutions to take immediate action to stop the use and commercialisation of heated tobacco products (HTPs) [...] and Electronic Delivery of Nicotine Systems (EDNS) [...]
They said their institution had received information that there were many people still using these products and secretly doing business selling them in Cambodia.
According to the directive dated March 18, the NACD has received information that some Cambodians, especially young people, have continued to use EDNS as well as new HTPs.