In 2022, an estimated 8.2 million adults aged 15 years and over in Argentina are tobacco product users. This positions Argentina as the 24th globally and the 4th in the WHO Americas Region in terms of the number of tobacco users.
Demand for cigarettes reduced by 34.3% from 51.5 packs per capita in 2010 to 34 packs per capita in 2022
Nicotine Alternatives
There are no reduced-risk nicotine tools legally available in Argentina.
HEALTH AND ECONOMIC BURDEN FROM TOBACCO USE
In 2019, it is estimated that tobacco was the highest risk factor that drove the most death and disability combined in Argentina.
Tobacco was responsible for an estimated57,526 deaths constituting about one-third (29%) of total
Of tobacco deaths, 51.4 thousand or 89% was due to smoking and 8.6 thousand or 15% from secondhand smoke.
In 2019, the top 10 causes of the most deaths in Argentina included Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) ranking 1st, Stroke ranking 3rd, COPD ranking 4th, and Lung Cancer ranking 6th.
Tobacco was responsible for 10.5 thousand or 25% of all IHD deaths, 5 thousand or 22% of all Stroke deaths, 10 thousand or 87% of all Lung Cancer deaths, and 9 thousand or 77% of all COPD deaths in Argentina.
In 2019, tobacco use caused an estimated loss of 1.5 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs)- which was about 27% of total DALYs where tobacco accounts 129 thousand DALYs for Stroke, 219 thousand DALYs for Lung Cancer, 196 thousand DALYs for COPD, and 246 thousand DALYs for IHD.
REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT and Economics
Public Health Commitment
Argentina is one of the few countries in the world that has not ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) as of 2023.
Diverse Tobacco Market
As of March 2023, HTPs are banned in Argentina. E-cigarettes are also banned in the country.
Taxation Policy
Total tax share on the retail selling price of combustible cigarettes (CCs) was 76.5% in 2022.
Smoking and Advertising Bans
Argentina implemented comprehensive smoking bans with complete compliance and slightly lower than comprehensive advertising bans with moderate compliance on CCs in 2022.
Age Restrictions
Tobacco products cannot be sold to individuals younger than 18 years of age.
Illicit Cigarette Trade
Illicit cigarette trade in Argentina increased from 7.3% of the tobacco market in 2008, and reached a peak of 15.6% in 2020, and subsequently decreased to 15% by 2022 (Euromonitor-last accessed in December 2023).
TOBACCO PRODUCTION AND DIVERSIFICATION
Argentina stands out as one of the 10th largest global producers of unmanufactured tobacco. In 2022, it produced 95.6 thousand tons, representing approximately 1.7% of the worldwide production of 5.8 million tons.
Compared with the production figures in 2010, when Argentina cultivated 132.9 thousand tons of unmanufactured tobacco, there has been a noteworthy reduction of 28% in 2022.
Additionally, Argentina employed an estimated 47.3 thousand hectares of land for tobacco cultivation in 2022, reflecting a considerable decrease of 30.1% compared to the land area used for the same purpose in 2010 (FAOSTAT)
As research findings become available that are inclusive of additional gender identities, the Foundation will update the information presented.
