Tobacco Use and Trends
- In 2022, an estimated 4.0 million people (3.9 million males and 126.2 thousand females) aged 15 years and older were tobacco product users in Uzbekistan. This positions the country as the 39th globally and the 11th in the WHO European Region in terms of number of tobacco users.1,2
In 2019, 9.9% of adults (19.8% males and 0.4% females) aged 18-69 years were current smokeless tobacco users. In the same year, 8.6% of adults (17.3% males and 0.2% females) were daily smokeless tobacco users.
In 2021, 1.7% of youths (2.3% boys and 0.9% girls) aged 13-15 years were current tobacco users. In the same year, 0.5% of youths (0.7% boys and 0.2% girls) aged 13-15 years were current cigarette smokers.
In 2021, 0.7% of youths (1% boys and 0.4% girls) aged 13-15 years were current smokeless tobacco product users.
The estimated demand per capita cigarettes in Uzbekistan have exhibited fluctuations, starting at 12.9 packs in 2004, reaching a peak at 27.3% in 2010 and subsequently undergoing a steady decline of 51.3% to 13.3 packs in 2022. (Euromonitor [accessed November 2023])
Nicotine Alternatives
In 2019, 0.2% of adults (0.4% males and 0% females) aged 18-69 years were current e-cigarette users in Uzbekistan.
In 2021, 0.7% of youths (1.1% boys and 0.3% girls) aged 13-15 years were current e-cigarette users.
Health and Economic Burden From Tobacco Use
In 2021, it was estimated that tobacco was the 8th highest risk factor driving the most death and disability combined in Uzbekistan.
Tobacco was responsible for an estimated 17.0 thousand deaths, which is about 13.7% of total deaths.
Of tobacco-related deaths, 12.4 thousand or 73.2% were due to smoking, and 5.0 thousand or 29.7% were due to secondhand smoke.
In 2021, the top 10 causes of the most deaths in Uzbekistan included Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) ranking 1st, and Stroke ranking 2nd.
Tobacco was responsible for an estimated 9.9 thousand or 15.6% of all IHD deaths, 2.7 thousand or 14.2% of all Stroke deaths, 940.9 or 72.2% of all Lung Cancer deaths, and 495.5 or 40.8% of all COPD deaths.
In 2021, tobacco use caused an estimated loss of 588.9 thousand disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), which was about 12.6% of total DALYs. Tobacco accounts for 276.9 thousand DALYs for IHD, 87.4 thousand DALYs for Stroke, 27.7 thousand DALYs for Lung Cancer, and 16.0 thousand DALYs for COPD.
Regulatory Environment and Economics
Public Health Commitment
Uzbekistan ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2012.
Uzbekistan adopted graphical health warnings (GHWs) on combustible cigarettes (CCs) in 2021, covering 40% of the front and 40% of the back of the packages.
Diverse Tobacco Market
Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) are not marketed in Uzbekistan, while e-cigarettes are allowed and marketed.
In 2024, e-cigarettes irrespective of nicotine content and HTPs will carry graphic and text health warning covering 65% of the main surface of packages.
Product restrictions for e-cigarettes include a maximum nicotine concentration to 20mg/ml.
Taxation Policy
In 2022, total tax rate on retail prices of a pack of cigarette was 56.4%.
In 2023, HTPs are subject to specific excise at 341,000 sum per kg, similar rate as other tobacco products. E-cigarettes with nicotine are subject to specific excise of UZS 605/ml.
In 2023, Uzbekistan applied differential excise tax policy between CCs and HTPs. The excise value for HTPs is UZS 2080.10/pack, with its share (13.00%) on the retail price (UZS 16,000.00/pack) in 2023. The excise value of CCs is UZS 5,977.00/pack, with its share (39.85%) on retail selling price (UZS 15,000.00/pack).
Smoking and Advertising Bans3
- Weak smoking bans with moderate level of compliance, and moderate advertising bans with moderate level of compliance were enforced in Uzbekistan in 2022.
Age Restrictions
- Tobacco products cannot be sold to individuals younger than 20 years of age.
Illicit Cigarette Trade
- Estimated figures indicate that illicit cigarette trade fluctuates, reaching a minimum rate of 2.7% in 2016, a peak rate of 15.7% in 2021 and 12.5% in 2022.
Tobacco Production and Diversification
In 2022, Uzbekistan produced about 2 thousand tons of unmanufactured tobacco. This positioned Uzbekistan as the 72nd largest tobacco producer in the world.
When compared to 2010, when Uzbekistan produced about 10.4 thousand tons of unmanufactured tobacco, there was an 80.7% decrease by 2022.
In 2022, Uzbekistan utilized approximately 1.7 thousand hectares of land for tobacco cultivation, reflecting a 78.6% decrease compared 2010. (FAOSTAT [accessed January 2024])
