Tobacco consumption among Indians
India is also the second-largest consumer and producer of tobacco. Nearly 330 million adults (15 years and above) in India (24% of all adults) are users of tobacco, according to the NFHS Survey 2021. The most prevalent form of tobacco use in India is smokeless tobacco and commonly used products are khaini, gutkha, betel quid with tobacco, and zarda. Smoking forms of tobacco used are bidi, cigarette, and hookah.
As per the findings from NFHS (National Family Health Survey-5)
- Tobacco Users – 330 million (24% of all Adults*)
- Tobacco use in Adult* men: 38%
- Tobacco use in Adult women: 8.9%
*(15 years & above)
Statewise Tobacco use in India
| # | States & Union Territories | Women (15 years & above) | Men (15 years & above) |
| 1 | Andaman & Nicobar | 31.3 % | 58.7 % |
| 2 | AP | 3.8% | 22.6% |
| 3 | Arunachal | 18.8% | 50.3% |
| 4 | Assam | 22.1% | 51.8% |
| 5 | Bihar | 5.0% | 48.8% |
| 6 | Chandigarh | 0.6% | 12.1% |
| 7 | Chattishgarh | 17.3% | 43.1% |
| 8 | D&N | 2.9% | 38.6% |
| 9 | Delhi | 2.2% | 26.3% |
| 10 | Goa | 2.6% | 18.2% |
| 11 | Gujarat | 8.7% | 41.1% |
| 12 | Haryana | 2.5% | 29.1% |
| 13 | Himachal Pradesh | 1.7% | 32.3% |
| 14 | J&K | 3.6% | 38.3% |
| 15 | Jharkhand | 8.4% | 47.4% |
| 16 | Karnataka | 8.5% | 27.1% |
| 17 | Kerala | 2.2% | 16.9% |
| 18 | Ladakh | 3.2% | 35.7% |
| 19 | Lakshadweep | 17.5% | 28.5% |
| 20 | Maharashtra | 10.9% | 33.8% |
| 21 | Manipur | 43.1% | 58.1% |
| 22 | Meghalaya | 28.2% | 57.7% |
| 23 | Mizoram | 61.6% | 72.9% |
| 24 | Madhya Pradesh | 10.2% | 46.5% |
| 25 | Nagaland | 13.7% | 48.4% |
| 26 | Odisha | 26.0% | 51.6% |
| 27 | Puducherry | 2.6% | 14.8% |
| 28 | Punjab | 0.4% | 12.9% |
| 29 | Rajasthan | 6.9% | 42.0% |
| 30 | Sikkim | 11.7% | 41.3% |
| 31 | Tamil Nadu | 4.9% | 20.1% |
| 32 | Telangana | 5.6% | 22.3% |
| 33 | Tripura | 50.4% | 56.9% |
| 34 | Uttar Pradesh | 8.4% | 44.1% |
| 35 | Uttarakhand | 4.6% | 33.7% |
| 36 | West Bengal | 10.8% | 48.1% |
| India | 8.9% | 38.0% |
Source: NFHS (National Family Health Survey-5)
Top 10 States by Tobacco use
Top 10 states by Women Tobacco user
As per the findings from NFHS (National Family Health Survey-5), Tobacco use amongst adult women (15-49 years) is at 8.9%. NE states have the highest percentage of women Tobacco users followed by Odisha and Chattisgarh. Its least in Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab.
| # | States & Uts | Women (15 years & above) |
| 1 | Mizoram | 61.6 |
| 2 | Tripura | 50.4 |
| 3 | Manipur | 43.1 |
| 4 | A&N | 31.3 |
| 5 | Meghalaya | 28.2 |
| 6 | Odisha | 26.0 |
| 7 | Assam | 22.1 |
| 8 | Arunachal | 18.8 |
| 9 | Chattishgarh | 17.3 |
| 10 | Nagaland | 13.7 |
Top 10 states by Men Tobacco user
As per the findings from NFHS (National Family Health Survey-5), Tobacco use amongst adult men (15-49 years) is at 38%. NE states have the highest percentage of men Tobacco users followed by Odisha and Bihar. Its least in Goa, Kerala, and Punjab.
| # | States & Uts | Men ( 15 years & above) |
| 1 | Mizoram | 72.9 |
| 2 | A&N | 58.7 |
| 3 | Manipur | 58.1 |
| 4 | Meghalaya | 57.7 |
| 5 | Tripura | 56.9 |
| 6 | Assam | 51.8 |
| 7 | Odisha | 51.6 |
| 8 | Arunachal | 50.3 |
| 9 | Bihar | 48.8 |
| 10 | Nagaland | 48.4 |
Source: NFHS (National Family Health Survey-5)