Accelerating Progress on Effective Tobacco Tax Policies in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Albania

Albania has one of the highest tobacco consumption prevalences in the region (WHO, 2016). According to the WHO, the number of tobacco smokers is 683,440, dominated by male consumers. The smoking prevalence by gender is 51.2% for males and 7.6% for females.

Smokers account for 29% of the adult population, with a mean number of cigarettes smoked per day per smoker at about 18.7 (as of 2012). This figure is lower as compared to 2005 when the mean number of cigarettes smoked per day per smoker was 20.7.

Meanwhile, the per capita consumption of cigarette sticks is estimated at 1,116/year. Tobacco consumption is a major problem for Albania with respect to underage tobacco consumption. According to the Tobacco Atlas, more than 1000 children of ages 10-14 use tobacco daily. The number of children under the age of 18 years that consume tobacco each day is even higher, around 15,000 children (WHO, 2014).

A corresponding Policy Brief can be found here.