69% of Kuwaitis choose a smoke-free life

• Higher education lowers smoking rates: 41% of those with ‘average or less’ qualifications smoke, compared to 30% with high school diplomas. Non-smokers over 55 years old make up 87%.

• 20% of non-smokers quit for health reasons; 80% have never smoked. 40% of non-smokers avoided smoking due to awareness of health risks.

The saying “Smoke and it will go away” doesn’t seem to apply to most Kuwaitis, as a report by Al Rai newspaper reveals that 65% of Kuwaitis, both citizens and residents, are non-smokers. Specifically, 69% of Kuwaitis and 61% of residents do not smoke.

A poll conducted by Ara’a Research and Consulting Company in Kuwait in June 2024, surveying 500 citizens and residents, revealed that 65% of adults over 18 do not currently smoke cigarettes or hookah. Among Kuwaitis, the percentage of non-smokers is 69%, while among Arab residents, it is 61%.

Majority of smokers are males

The results revealed that the vast majority of smokers are male, with 39% continuing to smoke regular cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or hookah, compared to only 6% of females.

Higher education linked to lower smoking rates

The results also showed a notable trend: the percentage of smokers decreased with higher educational qualifications. Those with ‘average or less’ educational qualifications had the highest smoking rate at 41%, followed by high school graduates at 30%. In contrast, the smoking rate among university graduates dropped to 26%.

Survey reveals higher non-smoking rates among seniors

The survey results revealed that the percentage of non-smokers is higher among those over 55 years of age, reaching 87 percent, compared to younger age groups, with 62 percent of those aged 35-55 years and 64 percent of those aged 18-34 years. This increase in non-smoking with age is attributed to growing health concerns.

Additionally, the results showed that 20 percent of non-smokers quit smoking for various reasons, most notably health problems, while 80 percent of non-smokers have never smoked.

74% of smokers considering quitting

The survey results revealed that 74 percent of smokers, regardless of their smoking frequency (always, sometimes, rarely), are considering quitting. Notably, half of them are motivated by health problems (50 percent), while the second largest group is driven by awareness of smoking’s dangers and concern for future health deterioration (31 percent).

Other reasons for contemplating quitting include saving money (7 percent), setting a better example for their children (6 percent), psychological fatigue from smoking (6 percent), and religious prohibitions (5 percent).

40% stay smoke-free thanks to awareness of health risks

According to the survey results, several factors helped non-smokers avoid smoking. The primary reason was awareness of the health risks associated with smoking, cited by 40 percent of non-smokers.

In terms of deterrents to smoking, four factors were equally significant, each accounting for 14 percent: ‘personal conviction’ (more common among males at 19 percent compared to ten percent of females), ‘religious prohibition,’ ‘parental upbringing and a smoke-free family environment’ (affecting both genders equally), and ‘customs and traditions’ (having a stronger effect on females at 21 percent compared to four percent of males).

Additionally, dislike of smoking (ten percent), the unpleasant smell of cigarettes (six percent), and health conditions (five percent) contributed to some people staying away from smoking. Sports (four percent) and good company (two percent) also played a positive role in fostering a healthy lifestyle, particularly among males.

Finally, the financial aspect and savings from not consuming cigarettes (two percent) were at the bottom of the list of reasons for deterring smoking.

Habit, willpower struggles keep smokers hooked

Among the reasons for smoking, some respondents cited enjoyment and relaxation as well as mood improvement (14 percent), while others expressed a lack of concern for their health (eight percent) or viewed smoking as a necessity to manage work pressure (six percent).

In contrast, 21 percent of smokers stated they would not quit. The primary reasons given were habit and the difficulty of breaking the addiction when willpower is lacking (47 percent).

Traditional cigarettes hold largest share among smokers

The survey results revealed that traditional cigarettes hold the largest share among smokers, with 61% of them using cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes follow with 18%, while hookah is used by 7%. Additionally, 9% of smokers use both cigarettes and hookah.

Annual per capita tobacco import drops sharply

The data indicates that the value of tobacco and its manufactured alternatives imported per person aged 20 and above has been declining since 2018. This decline reflects increased awareness of the dangers of smoking and its alternatives, with the import value decreasing from KD 28.75 per person to KD 8.96, representing a 69% drop over four years.

Traditional cigarette market to reach KD 198.6 million in 2024

It was indicated that the market size for imported traditional cigarettes, excluding other tobacco products and manufactured alternatives, is estimated to reach KD 198.6 million ($649.4 million) in 2024.

‘Opinions for research and consulting’

• Ara’a Research and Consulting Company, based in Kuwait, specializes in market research and marketing consulting, with additional offices in Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates.
• The company provides expertise and services in various sectors, including automotive, banking, financial institutions, investment services, hospitality, retail, real estate, oil, and media.