SEATCA: Indonesia Still Has the Highest Smokers in ASEAN

JAKARTA - The Chairman of the Honorary Assembly of the Indonesian Pulmonary Doctors Association (PDPI) Prof. Tjandra Yoga Aditama revealed that the smoking rate in Indonesia is still among the highest in the Southeast Asian region. This condition places Indonesia on par with the Philippines and Vietnam as the country with the highest prevalence of smoking in ASEAN.

The statement refers to the publication of the SouthEast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) entitled "Status of Tobacco Products in 2026 in ASEAN". The report shows that the consumption of conventional cigarettes still dominates the tobacco market in the region, along with the high number of smokers in some countries.

"The trade in cigarettes in ASEAN is still dominated by regular cigarettes/cigarettes, and this is triggered by the high prevalence of smoking in our country Indonesia, along with the Philippines and Vietnam," said Tjandra in a statement confirmed, Tuesday.

According to Tjandra, Indonesia is the largest contributor to cigarette sales in the ASEAN region. Based on 2024 data, the number of cigarettes sold in Indonesia reached around 320 billion sticks out of a total of 700 billion cigarettes circulating throughout ASEAN.

The number far exceeds other countries in the region, with the Philippines recording sales of around 90 billion sticks and Vietnam at 80 billion sticks.

"The 2024 data shows that cigarette sales in the ASEAN region are still quite high, and specifically written that this occurs in countries with high smoking prevalence and less strong market rules ("lesser-regulated markets"), as this report says it occurs in our country Indonesia and also the Philippines," said Tjandra.

In addition to conventional cigarettes, the SEATCA report also highlights the growth of the electronic cigarette market in a number of ASEAN countries. In Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, the market value of electronic cigarettes in 2024 is estimated to have reached 760 million US dollars and has the potential to continue to increase if it is not accompanied by strict regulations.

Tjandra said that the publication noted that there were already seven ASEAN countries that had implemented bans or very strict rules on electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTP).

SEATCA, he continued, encourages Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines to follow the policies of other ASEAN countries by banning the circulation of nicotine products for recreational purposes.

"Because the habit of smoking clearly has a bad effect on health, so there needs to be a serious effort to maintain the health of our children so that they are free from the dangers of cigarette smoke, especially in the face of Indonesia's Gold in 2045," concluded Tjandra.