Prevalence of tobacco consumption
in the DRC

Gender Icon

In the DRC, men consume more tobacco than women. The overall prevalence of tobacco consumption was 26.5% among men and 4.1% among women in 2014.

Age Icon

Tobacco consumption is higher among the elderly, and the products consumed vary according to gender.

Rural Urban Icon

Congolese living in rural areas consume more tobacco than those living in urban areas. In 2014, the rates were 29% and 20% respectively.

This page provides information on the prevalence of tobacco consumption by product, gender, age, urban/rural location, level of education, socio-economic status and province. Data are drawn from the 2013-2014 national Demographic and Health Survey (DHS)

and the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) conducted in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi in 2008.

Prevalence of tobacco consumption by gender

In the DRC, men smoke much more than women. In 2014, the prevalence of consumption of any type of tobacco was 26.5% among men and 4.1% among women. There are also big differences in the products consumed by the two genders.

Ninety-six percent (96%) of women said they did not use tobacco products. The 4% of women who did use products in 2014 indicated that they hardly ever used cigarettes. The product most consumed among women was snuff (3%), followed by hand-rolled tobacco (0.6%).

Among men, cigarettes were the most widely consumed product in 2014 (18.9%), followed by snuff (7.8%) and hand-rolled tobacco (4.4%). Research led by WHO also found significant differences globally in tobacco consumption by gender, with 36.7% among men and 7.8% among women.

These results are similar to those obtained in other Sub-Saharan African countries. In Nigeria, for example, 7.3% of men and 0.4% of women use tobacco products. In South Africa, the figures are 41.7% and 17.9% respectively.


Prevalence of tobacco consumption by gender

MaleFemaleAll products0%5%10%15%20%25%30%Prevalence of consumption (%)25.3%4.2%

Source: DHS 2014


Prevalence of smoking by age group

Smoking rates in the DRC increase with age. Adolescents and young adults are the age group with the lowest smoking prevalence, while the highest rate is found among older Congolese. In 2014, tobacco consumption was highest among men aged 45 to 49, at 37.7%, and among women aged 40 to 44, at 10.7%.

Cigarettes were the most widely consumed product across all age groups in the DRC, except among the youngest age group (15-19). The highest prevalence (11.1%) of cigarette consumption was found among those aged 45 to 49, followed by those aged 40 to 44 with 10.2%. In the 15-19 age group, snuff was the most widely consumed product  (2.3%), followed by cigarettes at (1.3%). However, additional research is needed to examine the use of novel tobacco products and reach adolescents younger than 15 years of age.

This relatively low prevalence among young people could be attributed to the ban on tobacco advertising in educational environments (households and schools) and the increase in tobacco taxes, as well as to young people’s low purchasing power. Other research shows that populations are likely to be introduced to smoking in adolescence through advertising, leading to sustained consumption throughout their lives.

  The high prevalence among older people may be attributed to higher purchasing power and exposure to tobacco advertising in their youth . Studies have shown that older people are not often targeted by cessation services.

These results are similar to those obtained in South Africa, where smoking rates were highest among adults aged over 60, and in Gambia, where prevalence is highest among adults aged 40-49.


Prevalence of tobacco consumption by age group (all products)

15-1920-2425-2930-3435-3940-4445-49Age range0%2%4%6%8%10%12%14%16%18%20%Prevalence of consumption (%)3.8%6.9%10.6%12.2%13.4%19.2%19.8%

Source: DHS 2014


Prevalence of smoking by socio-economic status

Congolese with a low socio-economic level consume more tobacco than those with a higher socio-economic level.

Despite the financial cost, it’s the poorest people who smoke the most cigarettes in the DRC. In 2014, the poorest Congolese smoked the most cigarettes with 28.7%, followed by the poor with 25%, the middle class with 19.9% and the rich and richer with 15.7% and 10.5% respectively.

In several African countries, a correlation has been noted between economic conditions and smoking prevalence. The poorer the individual, the higher the level of tobacco consumption.


Prevalence of tobacco consumption by socio-economic status

PoorestPoorerMiddleRicherRichest Socio-economic index0%2%4%6%8%10%12%14%16%Prevalence of consumption (%)14.3%13.5%11.3%8.2%5.8%

Source: DHS 2014


Consumption of any tobacco product in the country was 10.3% in 2014. Among the tobacco products consumed, cigarettes came first (5.9%), followed by snuff (4.4%). Other products were also consumed in the country but at lower rates, including hand-rolled tobacco, chewing tobacco, pipes, etc.

These results are similar to those shared by the WHO in 2022 revealing that cigarettes are the most widespread form of tobacco in the world

.


Prevalence of tobacco consumption by product category in the DRC

CigarettesSnuffHand Wrapped TobaccoChewing TobaccoOther Smoked TobaccoPipeTobacco products0%2%4%6%8%10%Prevalence of consumption (%)5.84%4.35%1.66%0.36%0.30%0.11%

Source: DHS 2014


Prevalence of smoking by level of education

There is a negative correlation between level of education and tobacco consumption. Congolese with a higher level of education smoke less than those without any schooling.

In 2014, Congolese with primary education smoked more cigarettes with a rate of 10.9%, followed by those with secondary education at 10.5% and those with no schooling at 10.2%.


Prevalence of smoking by level of education

No EducationPrimarySecondaryHigherLevel of education0%2%4%6%8%10%12%Prevalence of consumption (%)10.2%10.9%10.5%5.4%

Source: DHS 2014


Prevalence of smoking among students

In 2008,  33.6% of secondary school pupils aged 13 to 15 surveyed in Kinshasa and Lubumbashi said they used tobacco (all products), including 36.5% of boys and 29.3% of girls.

28.9% of students reported smoking other tobacco products (unspecified), including 29.3% of boys and 27.6% of girls. A large number of students reported smoking cigarettes – 19.5% of students in Kinshasa and 19% in Lubumbashi. However, this research dates back to 2007, and covers only teenagers in two urban areas

. Additional research is needed to reach out-of-school adolescents and those living outside of these two urban centers.

Prevalence of tobacco consumption in rural/urban areas

Congolese living in rural areas consume more tobacco than those living in urban areas; 12.2% of those living in rural areas and 7.3% of individuals in urban areas reported using tobacco.

A study carried out in seven African countries (Cameroon, Uganda, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and Tanzania), showed similar differences between urban and rural areas- with smoking prevalence at 67.1% in rural areas and 32.9% in urban centers.

The types of products consumed in rural and urban areas are similar in the DRC.

Prevalence of tobacco consumption by province

In 2014, the highest tobacco consumption rate (18.3%) was achieved in Bandundu province, which shares a border with Angola. Since 2015, this province has been divided into three provinces, namely Kwilu, Mai-Ndombe and Kwango. Bandundu province was followed by the mining area of Province Orientale (currently the provinces of Bas-uélé, Haut-uélé, Ituri and Tshopo) with 15.7% and Equateur (currently Equateur, Mongala, Nord Ubangi, Sud-Ubangi, and Tshuapa) with 13.4%. South Kivu had the lowest tobacco consumption in the DRC ( 3%).


Prevalence of tobacco consumption by province

  • Prevalence Rate|
  • 0% - 6%
  • 6.1% - 14.99%
  • 15% - 18.33%
  • No Data