Number of daily smokers, men and women in South Korea
South Korea: Number of daily smokers, men and women was 8.75 million in 2012. ▬ Flat
Latest (2012)
8.75 million
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
16th
of 186 countries
All-time high
10.41 million
in 1996
All-time low
7.61 million
in 1980
Years of data
33
1980–2012
Number of daily smokers, men and women in South Korea, 1980–2012
Source: IHME (2012) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for number of daily smokers, men and women in South Korea is 8.75 million, measured in 2012.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and down 10.3% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of daily smokers, men and women in South Korea peaked at 10.41 million in 1996 and was at its lowest, 7.61 million, in 1980.
South Korea ranks 16th of 186 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
Number of daily smokers, men and women in South Korea, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 7.61 million | — |
| 1981 | 7.86 million | +3.3% |
| 1982 | 8.11 million | +3.2% |
| 1983 | 8.35 million | +3.0% |
| 1984 | 8.60 million | +2.9% |
| 1985 | 8.85 million | +2.9% |
| 1986 | 9.10 million | +2.8% |
| 1987 | 9.34 million | +2.7% |
| 1988 | 9.57 million | +2.5% |
| 1989 | 9.78 million | +2.2% |
| 1990 | 9.94 million | +1.6% |
| 1991 | 10.05 million | +1.0% |
| 1992 | 10.13 million | +0.8% |
| 1993 | 10.19 million | +0.6% |
| 1994 | 10.29 million | +1.0% |
| 1995 | 10.38 million | +0.9% |
| 1996 | 10.41 million | +0.3% |
| 1997 | 10.39 million | -0.2% |
| 1998 | 10.35 million | -0.4% |
| 1999 | 10.22 million | -1.3% |
| 2000 | 10.08 million | -1.3% |
| 2001 | 9.92 million | -1.6% |
| 2002 | 9.75 million | -1.7% |
| 2003 | 9.57 million | -1.9% |
| 2004 | 9.38 million | -1.9% |
| 2005 | 9.20 million | -1.9% |
| 2006 | 9.08 million | -1.3% |
| 2007 | 8.97 million | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 8.87 million | -1.1% |
| 2009 | 8.79 million | -0.9% |
| 2010 | 8.72 million | -0.8% |
| 2011 | 8.70 million | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 8.75 million | +0.5% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 8.72 million | 7.61 million | 9.78 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 10.23 million | 9.94 million | 10.41 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 9.36 million | 8.79 million | 10.08 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 8.72 million | 8.70 million | 8.75 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near South Korea
More gender data for South Korea
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 4,318 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -3.79 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 119,025 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 125,732 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 116,471 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 122,813 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 119,098 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, male, interpolated 125,514 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, female, interpolated 124,678 (2025)
- Age population, age 03, male, interpolated 131,322 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of daily smokers, men and women in South Korea?
- Number of daily smokers, men and women in South Korea was 8.75 million in 2012, according to IHME (2012) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of daily smokers, men and women recorded in South Korea?
- The highest recorded value was 10.41 million in 1996.
- What is the lowest number of daily smokers, men and women recorded in South Korea?
- The lowest recorded value was 7.61 million in 1980.
- How does South Korea rank for number of daily smokers, men and women?
- South Korea ranks 16th out of 186 countries with data for 2012.
- Is number of daily smokers, men and women rising or falling in South Korea?
- Over the last ten years it is down 10.3%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
- Where does this South Korea data come from?
- The figures come from IHME (2012) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of daily smokers, men and women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 33 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimates of the number of men and women who smoke cigarettes at least daily (all ages).