Nauru, a micro Pacific Ocean Island state, has the world’s highest smoking rate, with 52.10 per cent of the population smoking. Women here smoke more than men.
Kiribati, another Micronesian state, closely follows Nauru with 52 per cent of smokers. Men account for 68 per cent of the total, while 35 per cent are women.
Third on the list is Tuvalu. Around 48.70 per cent are active smokers out of a population of 11,900.
The Southeast Asian country of Myanmar has a smoking rate of 45.50 per cent, the fourth highest in the world. This is despite public smoking restrictions.
Chile ranks fifth in smoking rates globally, with 44.70 per cent of its population being active smokers. The South American nation imposes high taxes on tobacco and enforces bans on smoking in public transit and indoor areas.
The smoking rate in Lebanon is the sixth highest. It also has high rates of lung cancer; the country’s young smoking population is among the highest worldwide.
Poor societal attitudes towards curbing smoking make Serbia home to the world’s seventh-largest smoker population. About 40.60 per cent of the country lights up.
Greece and Bangladesh are tied with 39.10 per cent of their populations being active smokers.
Bulgaria completes the top ten list of countries with the highest number of smokers, as 38.90 per cent of its population comprises smokers.