As many as 24.4 percent of the Belarusians aged 16 and older are smokers, the National Statistical Committee (Belstat) said in a statement issued on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, observed around the world on May 31.
In the last 15 years, the share of smokers among men fell by almost eight percentage points to 45.8 percent, while the proportion of women smokers almost doubled to 9.3 percent.
Over half of male smokers consume at least 20 cigarettes daily, while only 21 percent of female smokers smoke as much, according to Belstat.
New rules banning stores and other retail outlets from openly displaying cigarettes will take effect in Belarus on July 1.
The amendments to Alyaksandr Lukashenka's 2002 decree will also ban the advertising of products looking like cigarettes and non-cigarette products bearing cigarette brands, according to the expert.
