Indonesia now holds the highest rate of male smokers in the world, with WHO estimates projecting that by 2025, 73.2% of Indonesian men will be active smokers—meaning only around 26.8% will not smoke, a sharp drop from about 38.8% two decades ago.
This aligns with a 2020 Statista survey that also placed Indonesia at the top globally for male smoking prevalence, highlighting how smoking has become a widespread norm among men in the country.
The consequences are alarming: according to the Tobacco Atlas, smoking is responsible for over 268,000 deaths in Indonesia each year, and the economic burden it places on the country reaches around IDR 288 trillion (US$ 17 billion) annually.
Beyond the smokers themselves, secondhand smoke continues to pose a serious threat to families and children, making this tobacco crisis not just a personal choice, but a pressing public health emergency that requires urgent and comprehensive action.
