Tobacco: Mauritius Ranks 15th Among Countries Resisting the Industry, Yet 18% of the Population Still Smokes

Mauritius ranks 15th out of 100 countries in the Global Tobacco Industry Interference Index 2025, with a score of 44 points. This result places the island among the countries that resist the influence of the tobacco industry on political decisions relatively well.

This international index evaluates seven indicators: policy formulation, government interactions, transparency, conflicts of interest, and prevention measures. The lower the score, the less interference there is.

Mauritius owes this result to several concrete measures: a ban on tobacco advertising, restrictions in public places, and packaging with shocking images. These advancements have been praised by the WHO. Mauritius joined the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2004.

However, the ranking also highlights shortcomings, particularly in terms of transparency and conflict of interest prevention. The reality on the ground remains concerning: 18.1% of the population still smokes, and nearly 80% of deaths in Mauritius are linked to non-communicable diseases, with tobacco being a major contributing factor.

This data was presented during a workshop involving the WHO and the University of Mauritius, among other partners.