In Turkey, more than 19 million smokers collectively shell out over 16 billion dollars on cigarettes annually.
In Turkey, the tobacco market is projected to generate just ₺85.53 billion ($2.13 billion) by the end of 2025, a figure that belies the significant impact of the industry on the country.
According to recent data, tobacco-related Special Consumption Tax (SCT) revenues have experienced a considerable year-on-year growth, with a 45.12% increase compared to the first half of 2024. This surge in revenues translated into ₺184.13 billion ($4.52 billion) being collected from cigarette sales alone during the first half of 2025.
Cigarette SCTs accounted for 3.91% of Turkey's total tax revenues in the same period, with the SCT, an indirect tax applied to specific goods such as fuel, motor vehicles, and alcohol, generating ₺4.71 trillion in the first six months of the year. Tobacco products accounted for 21.85% of total SCT revenues.
Despite the substantial taxes collected, only ₺13.2 billion ($328 million) of the ₺262.3 billion spent in the first half of 2025 reached cigarette manufacturers.
Turkish smokers spent an estimated ₺260 billion ($6.38 billion) on cigarettes in the first six months of 2025. The retail price of a cigarette pack in Turkey is 86.8% tax, a figure that underscores the government's reliance on tobacco revenues.
Smoking rates among men in Turkey are higher, with 41.3% reporting daily smoking, compared to 15.5% among women. The latest Health Survey by TurkStat in 2022 shows that 28.3% of the population aged 15 and over reported smoking daily, amounting to more than 19 million people nationwide.
The high smoking rates have tragic consequences. An estimated 27% of all deaths in Turkey are attributed to smoking-related diseases, claiming the lives of more than 115,000 people each year.
The historical reasons behind high tobacco consumption in Turkey are multifaceted and can be attributed to several factors. Early adoption and cultural significance, economic factors, global influence and trade, social and gender disparities, and a lack of comprehensive anti-smoking measures have all contributed to the current landscape.
Raising taxes on tobacco products is an effective measure to reduce tobacco consumption, according to the World Health Organization. A price increase of 10% on tobacco products typically reduces consumption by about 4% in high-income countries and up to 5% in low- and middle-income countries.
In the European Union (EU), the retail price of a cigarette pack is estimated to be around 77% tax. The European Commission has emphasized the role of fiscal policy in reducing tobacco use, recently proposing to raise taxation rates on tobacco products.
Total spending on cigarettes in Turkey is forecast to reach ₺649.44 billion ($16.17 billion) for the year. With the government collecting significant taxes from tobacco sales and the health impacts becoming increasingly apparent, the future of tobacco consumption in Turkey remains a complex and pressing issue.
References:
- History of Tobacco in Turkey
- Tobacco Consumption in Turkey: Causes and Consequences
- Tobacco Cultivation in Turkey
- The Global Spread of Tobacco
