Credit amazing__mapsThe map above was created by the Amazing Maps team and shows smoking rates for those 15 and over across Europe.And the one thing that really jumps out at me is France really living up to its stenotype.You can see how this compares to other countries in the world in the table below:EntityShare of adults who smoke or use tobacco (age-standardized)Afghanistan22.7%Africa11.5%Albania21.9%Algeria21.2%Andorra36.3%Argentina23.8%Armenia24.9%Asia24.2%Australia13.1%Austria24.9%Azerbaijan19.6%Bahamas11.3%Bahrain15.0%Bangladesh32.9%Barbados7.0%Belarus30.1%Belgium26.7%Belize8.8%Benin6.3%Bhutan18.7%Bolivia12.4%Bosnia and Herzegovina36.2%Botswana18.7%Brazil12.2%Brunei16.4%Bulgaria39.5%Burkina Faso14.3%Burundi11.2%Cambodia17.2%Cameroon6.5%Canada12.0%Cape Verde11.0%Chad7.4%Chile28.7%China23.4%Colombia8.2%Comoros17.2%Congo15.4%Cook Islands27.0%Costa Rica8.9%Cote d'Ivoire8.8%Croatia37.0%Cuba17.4%Cyprus35.6%Czechia29.9%Democratic Republic of Congo12.2%Denmark16.2%Dominican Republic10.5%East Timor38.7%Ecuador10.2%Egypt24.7%El Salvador8.9%Estonia28.3%Eswatini9.5%Ethiopia5.2%Europe25.9%Fiji27.6%Finland22.3%France34.6%Gambia10.5%Georgia31.8%Germany21.3%Ghana3.4%Greece32.8%Guatemala11.9%Guinea-Bissau8.2%Guyana11.1%Haiti8.1%High-income countries23.2%Honduras12.3%Hungary32.2%Iceland9.4%India24.3%Indonesia38.2%Iran13.3%Iraq19.2%Ireland19.3%Israel20.4%Italy22.4%Jamaica9.7%Japan19.2%Jordan35.6%Kazakhstan22.2%Kenya10.7%Kiribati39.7%Kuwait19.9%Kyrgyzstan27.3%Laos27.2%Latvia33.9%Lebanon34.3%Lesotho24.3%Liberia8.2%Lithuania31.4%Low-income countries12.1%Lower-middle-income countries21.7%Luxembourg23.0%Madagascar26.8%Malawi9.7%Malaysia22.0%Maldives26.3%Mali8.0%Malta24.7%Marshall Islands29.8%Mauritania9.5%Mauritius20.9%Mexico14.9%Moldova29.7%Mongolia29.5%Montenegro32.0%Morocco13.0%Myanmar44.4%Namibia14.1%Nauru48.3%Nepal28.3%Netherlands21.3%New Zealand12.2%Niger7.7%Nigeria3.3%North America19.8%North Korea16.5%Norway14.2%Oceania19.1%Oman8.4%Pakistan18.9%Palau17.3%Panama5.2%Papua New Guinea39.6%Paraguay10.7%Peru7.1%Philippines20.4%Poland23.6%Portugal25.6%Qatar12.5%Romania30.0%Russia29.2%Rwanda14.3%Saint Lucia13.8%Samoa22.5%Sao Tome and Principe7.8%Saudi Arabia14.9%Senegal6.5%Serbia39.5%Seychelles20.2%Sierra Leone12.9%Singapore16.4%Slovakia32.4%Slovenia20.1%Solomon Islands36.9%South Africa20.7%South America13.4%South Korea20.0%Spain28.4%Sri Lanka19.5%Sweden22.7%Switzerland25.5%Tanzania9.3%Thailand19.2%Togo6.4%Tonga31.3%Tunisia20.5%Turkey30.5%Turkmenistan5.6%Tuvalu33.7%Uganda7.5%Ukraine24.9%United Arab Emirates9.0%United Kingdom14.2%United States24.3%Upper-middle-income countries22.5%Uruguay20.5%Uzbekistan16.7%Vietnam22.5%World21.7%Yemen21.4%Zambia14.6%Zimbabwe11.3%The data for the map and the table above comes from the World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2024) and is for 2022.Why does France have such a higher smoking rate than other Western European countries?France’s relatively high smoking rate compared to other Western European countries results from a combination of historical, cultural, and socioeconomic reasons: Historical and Cultural AcceptanceCultural symbolism: Smoking has traditionally been perceived in France as sophisticated, chic, and socially acceptable, reinforced by film, art, and popular culture.Social rituals: Smoking often accompanies social interactions like café culture, meals, and social gatherings. Policy and EnforcementDelayed strict regulations: Compared to other Western European nations, France was slower to implement comprehensive tobacco-control measures (such as indoor smoking bans, advertising restrictions, and high taxation), allowing habits to persist longer.Weaker enforcement: Early enforcement of regulations was less stringent, allowing smoking norms to endure. Economic FactorsPricing and taxation: Historically lower cigarette prices, especially relative to purchasing power, made smoking economically accessible for many years. Although this has changed recently, the habit persisted due to earlier affordability. Industry InfluenceStrong tobacco lobbying: France historically had influential tobacco industry lobbying, delaying aggressive anti-smoking campaigns and regulations. Youth CultureEarly initiation: Youth initiation rates have historically been high, perpetuating the cycle through peer influence and normalization among younger demographics.Recent Shifts:France has increasingly tackled this issue through:Raising tobacco taxes significantly.Expanding anti-smoking campaigns.Introducing plain packaging legislation.These recent policies have begun to reduce smoking rates, though historical factors mean that France’s rates remain relatively higher compared to its Western European counterparts.Which country surprises you the most (either higher or lower)?