Findings from the Fiji STEPS Survey 2025 have raised fresh concern over tobacco use in Fiji, with data showing stark gender, age and regional disparities — particularly in the Eastern Division, which recorded the country’s highest levels of current smoking.
Regionally, the picture is uneven.
The Western Division has the highest proportion of people who have never smoked (57.6 per cent), while the Central and Northern Divisions show more mixed patterns, including higher daily smoking in the north.
The most troubling results, however, are in the Eastern Division. Only 24.1 per cent of residents reported never smoking.
While 15.7 per cent were former smokers, the division recorded the highest levels of current smoking nationwide, with 26.3 per cent non-daily smokers and a striking 33.9 per cent daily smokers.
“These findings highlight the importance of early intervention across the life course to support abstinence from tobacco use. Smoking often peaks among younger adults and declines with age, underscoring the need for health promotion programs targeting younger populations,” said the report.
“The data show an incremental increase with age in smokers receiving advice from healthcare providers to quit. About 56% of smokers had attempted to quit, and there were similar quit-attempt rates across age groups.”
