How Many Smokers Are in Russia

Tobacco Use in Russia

• There are 44 million smokers in Russia; one-third (31%) of Russians smoke.1

• Male smoking rates are among the highest in the world; 61% of males smoke. Female smoking rates more than doubled from 7% to 15% between 1993 and 2004.2

• 27% of boys and 24% of girls smoke.3

• Per capita consumption of cigarettes in Russia is rapidly growing, increasing 66% since 1990.4

• In 2005, Russians spent RUB 83.4 billion ($2.9 billion USD) on cigarettes.5

Impact of Tobacco Use in Russia

High smoking rates contribute to a significant number of early deaths, resulting in declining life expectancy, high healthcare costs and lost productivity.

• 330,000 to 400,000 Russians die each year from tobacco-related diseases.6

• Tobacco ranks in the top 3 risk factors for premature death in Russia, following high blood pressure and high cholesterol. These 3 risk factors are estimated to contribute to 75% of all deaths.7

• Russian male life expectancy dropped from 64 years in 1989 to 59 years in 2008, in part due to increased tobacco consumption. By comparison, men in Western Europe live, on average, up to 77 years.

Higher Taxes Reduce Tobacco Use

The most effective way to reduce tobacco use is to raise the price of tobacco through tax increases that are large enough to affect retail prices. Higher tobacco prices discourage youth from initiating tobacco use and encourage current users to quit.

Tobacco Tax Rates in Russia are Low

Currently Russia has a very low tobacco tax rate, which leads to the loss of government budget income compared to its neighbors (Table 1).

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