New Survey Shows Panama’s Strong Tobacco Control Policies Continue to Reduce Tobacco Use

New Survey Shows Panama's Strong Tobacco Control Policies Continue to Reduce Tobacco Use

Statement of Patricia Sosa, Associate Vice President, Latin America Programs, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
May 29, 2026

Washington, D.C. - New results from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) show that Panama continues to achieve remarkable success in reducing tobacco use, reinforcing its position as a leader in tobacco control.

According to the survey, current tobacco use among adults in Panama declined from 6.4 percent in 2013 to just 5.0 percent in 2025, giving Panama one of the lowest tobacco use rates in the Americas and globally. These outstanding results demonstrate that strong, evidence-based tobacco control policies save lives and protect public health.

The Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) is a critical tool for monitoring tobacco use patterns, evaluating the impact of policies and identifying areas for enhanced intervention. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of Panama's comprehensive tobacco control policies and its longstanding commitment to implementing the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). Panama's experience shows that strong tobacco control laws work. Countries that fully implement proven measures can significantly reduce tobacco use, protect people from secondhand smoke and save lives.

The results come at a critical moment as the tobacco industry continues aggressively promoting e-cigarettes and other nicotine products, particularly to young people. The 2025 GATS survey also found exposure to any cigarette advertising and promotion increased from 35.6 to 42 percent.

While current e-cigarette use remains low (1.5 percent), the survey found it is nearly four times higher than the prevalence measured in Panama's 2019 National Health Survey - underscoring the need for continued vigilance and strong regulation of emerging nicotine products to prevent youth addiction.

In Panama and around the world, tobacco companies continue to seek opportunities to weaken effective laws and normalize the use of addictive products. If governments fail to enforce existing protections or allow the weakening of tobacco control measures, tobacco and nicotine use rates could rise again, particularly among youth.

Panama's success did not happen by chance. It is the result of sustained political commitment, strong public health leadership and policies grounded in science and the WHO FCTC.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids commends Panama for its continued progress in driving down smoking rates. Panama's leadership should serve as an example for countries across Latin America that have yet to adopt comprehensive smoke-free laws or fully implement WHO FCTC measures. The survey results show that strong public health policies can dramatically reduce tobacco use and help create healthier futures for the next generation.