Tobacco Use and Trends
- In 2022, an estimated 7.0 million people (5.5 million males and 1.5 million females) aged 15 years and older were tobacco product users in Ukraine. This positions the country as the 27th globally and the 9th in the WHO European Region in terms of number of tobacco users.1,2
In 2017, 0.2% of adults (0.4% males and 0% females) aged 15+ years used smokeless tobacco in Ukraine.
In 2023, 2.6% adults aged 18 years and older Ukrainians currently use hookah.
In 2019, 22% of youths (25% boys and 18% girls) aged 15-16 years in Ukraine were current cigarette smokers.
It is estimated that the demand for cigarettes per capita fell by 30% from 103 packs in 2010 to 72 packs in 2022. (Euromonitor [accessed November 2023])
Nicotine Alternatives
In 2023, 3.3% of adults aged 18 years and older are current e-cigarette users in Ukraine. The prevalence is 3% for the heated tobacco products (HTPs).
In 2019, 11% of youth (14% boys and 8.4% girls) aged 15 – 16 years were current e-cigarette users.
Health and Economic Burden From Tobacco Use
In 2021, it was estimated that tobacco was the 4th highest risk factor driving the most death and disability combined in Ukraine.
Tobacco was responsible for an estimated 74.3 thousand deaths, which is about 16.9% of total deaths.
Of tobacco-related deaths, 61.4 thousand or 82.7% were due to smoking, and 15.0 thousand or 20.2% were due to secondhand smoke.
In 2021, the top 10 causes of the most deaths in Ukraine included Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) ranking 1st, Stroke ranking 3rd, and Lung Cancer ranking 7th.
Tobacco was responsible for an estimated 41.6 thousand or 15.2% of all IHD deaths, 9.1 thousand or 12.9% of all Stroke deaths, 8.6 thousand or 86.5% of all Lung Cancer deaths, and 3.1 thousand or 66.5% of all COPD deaths.
In 2021, tobacco use caused an estimated loss of 2.1 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), which was about 19.6% of total DALYs. Tobacco accounts for 966.2 thousand DALYs for IHD, 258.1 thousand DALYs for Stroke, 236.8 thousand DALYs for Lung Cancer, and 83.7 thousand DALYs for COPD.
Regulatory Environment and Economics
Public Health Commitment
Ukraine ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2006.
Ukraine adopted graphical health warnings (GHWs) on combustible cigarettes (CCs) in 2012, covering 50% of the front and 50% of the back of the packages.
Diverse Tobacco Market
Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) and e-cigarettes are legally available in Ukraine, with HTPs and e-cigarettes (with or without nicotine) subject to similar regulations as CCs under tobacco regime.
Product restrictions for e-cigarettes include a maximum nicotine concentration to 20mg/ml, the tank capacity not exceeding 2ml, and refill containers limited to a maximum 10ml.
Text health warnings are required on HTPs and e-cigarettes, covering 30% of main package surface.
Taxation Policy
In 2022, the total tax rate on retail prices of a pack of cigarette was 70.7% in Ukraine.
HTPs are subject to a specific excise tax of UAH 2,092.12 per 1000 pieces and set to increase progressively until 2025. E-cigarettes are taxed a specific excise of UHA 10,000/liter.
Ukraine applies an uniform excise tax policy between CCs and HTPs. The excise tax value for HTPs is UAH 41.94/pack with its share (52.43%) of the retail selling price UAH 80.00/pack, while the excise tax value for CCs is UAH 41.94/pack, with its share (49.34%) of the retail selling price UAH 85.00/pack.
Smoking and Advertising Bans3
- Complete smoking bans with unknown level of compliance, and complete advertising bans with unknown level of compliance were enforced in Ukraine in 2022.
Age Restrictions
- Tobacco products and e-cigarettes cannot be sold to individuals younger than 18 years of age.
Illicit Cigarette Trade
- Estimated figures suggest that illicit cigarette trade was negligible between 2008 (1.4%) and 2012 (5.5%). Then there was a sudden peak at 9.9% in 2013, followed by a sharp fall to 5.6% in 2014 and 1.2% in 2016. Subsequently, it started consistently increasing, reaching 7.3% in 2020, and experienced a significant jump to 17.3% in 2021 and 20.3% in 2022. (Euromonitor [accessed November 2023])
Tobacco Production and Diversification
In 2022, Ukraine produced about 1.6 thousand tons of unmanufactured tobacco. This positioned Ukraine as the 78th largest tobacco producer in the world.
When compared to 2010, when Ukraine produced about 310 tons of unmanufactured tobacco, there was a 409.7% increase by 2022.
In 2022, Ukraine utilized approximately 700 hectares of land for tobacco cultivation, reflecting a 150% increase compared 2010. (FAOSTAT [accessed January 2024])
