Global tobacco use declines, but smoking in Bosnia remains high

Europe now has the highest prevalence of tobacco use globally, with 24.1% of adults smoking in 2024. European women also have the highest smoking rate in the world, at 17.4%.

“Millions of people are quitting or not starting tobacco use thanks to global efforts in tobacco control,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

“In response to this progress, the tobacco industry is striking back by marketing new nicotine products and aggressively targeting youth. Governments must act faster and more decisively in enforcing proven tobacco control measures,” he added.

According to the report, tobacco use in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) remains a major public health issue, with 35.3% of adults identified as tobacco users. The rate is significantly higher among men (42.2%) than women (29.1%).

High smoking rates among young people are particularly alarming. Nearly one in four children aged 13 to 15 uses some form of tobacco product, while in the Republika Srpska, that figure climbs to 38.9%.

“BiH has reduced tobacco use by 12% since 2010, but it is still off track to meet the global target of a 30% reduction by 2025,” said Dr Erwin Cooreman, WHO’s Special Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina. “By strengthening tobacco control, raising public awareness, and supporting people who want to quit, BiH can move closer to global noncommunicable disease prevention goals,” he added.

In the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, a Law on the Control and Restricted Use of Tobacco and Related Products was adopted in 2022 and came into force in May 2023. It introduced strict bans on smoking in all enclosed public and workplace areas, along with new rules for advertising and packaging tobacco products.

In the Republika Srpska, the Draft Law on the Protection of Public Health from Tobacco and Other Smoking Products was approved earlier this year. The public consultation phase concluded in August 2025, marking an important step toward a unified national tobacco control framework aligned with international health standards, WHO said.