Tobacco Use and Trends
- In 2022, an estimated 4.5 million people (2.4 million males and 2.1 million females) aged 15 years and older were tobacco product users in Chile. This positions the country as the 36th globally and the 5th in the WHO Region of the Americas in terms of number of tobacco users.1,2
For comparison, according to the study by National Drug Observatory in 2022, prevalence of daily smoking in Chile was 17.7% (17.9% males and 17.5% females) for those aged 12 to 64 years. This marks a notable decrease of 1.8 percentage points from 19.5% (20.1% males and 19% females) in 2020.
Daily smoking was higher at 20.4% in low-income, 19.1% in middle income and 15% in high income groups.
In 2022, 2.6% of youths aged 12 to 18 years were daily smokers.
Demand for cigarettes reduced by 48.2% from 42 packs per capita in 2010 to 21.8 packs per capita in 2022. (Euromonitor [accessed November 2023])
Nicotine Alternatives
- In 2022, 1% of adults (1.4% males and 0.5% females) aged 15 to 64 years in Chile were reported as current e-cigarette users. In the same year, 0.6% of adults (0.9% males and 0.3% females) reported using e-cigarettes daily.
Health and Economic Burden From Tobacco Use
In 2021, it was estimated that tobacco was the 5th highest risk factor driving the most death and disability combined in Chile.
Tobacco was responsible for an estimated 7.1 thousand deaths, which is about 13.6% of total deaths.
Of tobacco-related deaths, 5.5 thousand or 77.3% were due to smoking, and 1.8 thousand or 25.6% were due to secondhand smoke.
In 2021, the top 10 causes of the most deaths in Chile included Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) ranking 2nd, Stroke ranking 3rd, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) ranking 7th and Lung Cancer ranking 10th.
Tobacco was responsible for an estimated 1.4 thousand or 14.6% of all IHD deaths, 918.3 or 10.9% of all Stroke deaths, 1.5 thousand or 66.0% of all Lung Cancer deaths, and 914.3 or 40.4% of all COPD deaths.
In 2021, tobacco use caused an estimated loss of 255.6 thousand disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), which was about 14.9% of total DALYs. Tobacco accounts for 40.2 thousand DALYs for IHD, 28.0 thousand DALYs for Stroke, 36.8 thousand DALYs for Lung Cancer, and 19.1 thousand DALYs for COPD.
Regulatory Environment and Economics
Public Health Commitment
Chile ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2005.
Chile adopted graphical health warnings (GHWs) on combustible cigarettes (CCs) in 2006, covering 50% of the front and 50% of the back of the packages.
Diverse Tobacco Market
- There are no specific regulations for Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs), as the product has not been marketed in the country. E-cigarettes are considered “pharmaceutical product”. However, vaping products will no longer be considered as pharmaceutical products, after May 2024.
Taxation Policy
In 2022, total tax rate on retail prices of a pack of cigarette was 80.3%, the highest rate in the Region of the Americas (AMR).
In 2023, excise share on retail price was 58.78% while price for a pack of cigarettes was CLP 4530.70.
Although there is no specific excise tax policy on HTPs, imported HTPs are subject to CLP 1.8/pack of 20 sticks import duties in Chile.
Smoking and Advertising Bans3
- Complete smoking bans with complete level of compliance, and moderate advertising bans with complete level of compliance were enforced in Chile in 2022.
Age Restrictions
- Tobacco products cannot be sold to individuals younger than 18 years of age in Chile.
Illicit Cigarette Trade
- Estimated figures suggest that illicit cigarette trade remained less than 5% between 2008 and 2012, and then consistently increasing and reaching 22.5% in 2022.
Tobacco Production and Diversification
In 2022, Chile produced 2.6 thousand tons of unmanufactured tobacco. This positioned Chile as the 63rd largest tobacco producer in the world.
When compared to 2010, when Chile produced 7.9 thousand tons of unmanufactured tobacco, there was a 67.5% decrease by 2022.
In 2022, Chile utilized approximately 919 hectares of land for tobacco cultivation, reflecting a 63.4% decrease compared 2010. (FAOSTAT [accessed January 2024])