The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) in cooperation with SESRIC carried out the first specialized Survey on Smoking and Tobacco Consumption in Palestine in the fourth quarter of 2021. On the occasion of the World No Tobacco Day, PCBS disseminated the preliminary results of the Survey on 31 May 2022.

A sample of 9,232 households was taken into consideration for the Survey, out of which data for 7,763 households were completed. Results of the Survey show that there is a significant increase in smoking and consumption of tobacco rates for individuals aged 18+ across Palestine.

According to the results of the Survey, smoking and consumption of tobacco among individuals aged 18+ increased to 31% in 2021 from 23% in 2010. The prevalence of smoking among males aged 18+ in Palestine was about 54% compared to 8% among females.

Smoking and consumption of tobacco is more prevalent in West Bank as compared to Gaza Strip. 40% of the population of West Bank is smoking and consuming tobacco while 17% of the population in Gaza Strip is smoking and consuming tobacco.

74% of the total current smokers aged 18+ only smoke cigarettes, making them as the most popular means of smoking tobacco. Besides cigarettes, water pipes are also used commonly for smoking tobacco in Palestine. On the other hand, only 3% of all individuals aged 18+ use e-cigarettes.

About 5% of the individuals aged 18+ were able to completely quit smoking. The average age for quitting smoking is estimated as 36 years in Palestine while 21% of current smokers tried to quit smoking in the last 12 months.

For more details, please visit:

https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/portals/_pcbs/PressRelease/Press_En_SmokingSurv2022E.pdf