The 22 OECD countries that smoke the most

The orgnaisation's latest 'Health at a Glance' report says smoking kills nearly 6 million people a year

The average rate of smoking in the populations across all 34 OECD nations is 19.7% (Getty Images)

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development has released its latest "Health at a Glance" report, giving a snapshot of the health of its 34 member nations.

The report looks at everything from access and quality of healthcare to diet, weight, and lifestyle factors in each of its wealthy member nations.

One of the lifestyle factors it looks at is smoking, which kills nearly 6 million people a year, according to the OECD.

The average rate of smoking in the populations across all 34 OECD nations is 19.7%, but 22 countries have a higher-than-average rate. We've rounded them all up below.

22. South Africa — 19.8%

19.8% of the population smokes in South Africa, but it's skewed more toward men, and 32.1% of men smoke, against 7.4% of women.

The OECD says: "Tobacco is a major risk factor for at least two of the leading causes of premature mortality — cardiovascular diseases and cancer, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, lung cancer, cancers of the larynx and mouth, and pancreatic cancer, among others."

21. South Korea — 19.9%

In South Korea, 19.9% of the population smokes, again with a bias towards men — 36.2% of men to just 4.3% of women.

The OECD says: "Smoking prevalence is higher among men than among women in all OECD countries except in Sweden and Iceland."

20. UK — 20%

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The UK still smokes more than average for the OECD, despite smoking rates declining. Twenty percent of the population smokes — 22% of men and 19% of women.

The OECD says: "On average, smoking rates have decreased by about one fourth since 2000, from 26% in 2000 to 20% in 2013."

19. Switzerland — 20.4%

23.1% of men smoke in Switzerland, against 17.8% of women.

The OECD says: "People in less affluent social groups have a greater prevalence and intensity of smoking, a higher all-cause mortality rate and lower rates of cancer survival. The influence of smoking as a determinant of overall health inequalities is such that, if the entire population was non-smoking, mortality differences between social groups would be halved."

18. Slovenia — 20.5%

In Slovenia 22.6% of men smoke and 18.4% of women smoke.

Like the UK, smoking is banned in all enclosed spaces and you must be over 18 to smoke.

17. Germany — 20.9%

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Just over a quarter of German men smoke, 25.1%, and 17.1% of German women smoke.

Like in many countries in Western Europe, smoking is becoming less fashionable among the young. Between 2000 and 2013, the proportion of 12- to 17-year-olds in Germany smoking fell from 27.5% to 12%, according to a government study.

16. Italy — 21.1%

26.7% of men in Italy smoke, compared to 15.9% of women.

Smoking has been banned in enclosed public places in Italy since 2005, and the government isreportedly considering extending the ban to cover places like beaches, parks, and stadiums.

15. Czech Republic — 22.2%

27.2% of Czech men smoke and 17.4% of women do.

The Czech Republic was the last EU member to ban smoking in restaurants and bars earlier this year.

14. Lithuania — 22.2%

The gap between men and women who smoke is a massive 20% in Lithuania — 33% of men smoke, compared to just 13% of women.

A smoking ban in public places has been in effect since 2007.

13. Austria — 23.2%

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27.3% of Austrian men smoke and 19.4% of Austrian women do.

A smoking ban in Austria is hugely controversial, as people fear it will threaten the country's "cafe culture," but the government earlier this year agreed to introduce a ban in 2018.

12. Poland — 23.8%

In Poland, the smoking rate among men is 30.9%, against just 17.9% for women.

A smoking ban in public places and workplaces was introduced in 2009, but an attempt to strengthen the ban a year later failed.

11. Turkey — 23.8%

Turkey has another big gap between smoking rates among men and women: 37.3% of men smoke, compared to just 10.7% of women.

A smoking ban in workplaces and public places came into force in 2005.

10. Spain — 23.9%

27.9% of men smoke in Spain and 20.2% of women.

Spain introduced one of Europe's strictest anti-smoking laws in 2011, prohibiting smoking on television broadcasts, near hospitals, or in school playgrounds, as well as in public places.

9. France — 24.1%

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In France, 28.7% of men smoke, while 20.2% of women do.

The Local writes: "Smoking in France was so much of an issue scientists have even invented a name for it: the French paradox. The paradox consists how the French seem to smoke so many cigarettes but don't appear to be affected by their adverse effects at the same rate as their European counterparts."

8. Russia — 24.2%

Russia has a huge difference in smoking rates between men and women: 45.1% of men smoke, against just 10.5% of women.

A smoking ban in restaurants and cafes only came into force last year.

7. China — 25.5%

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Smokers in China are pretty much all men. Just shy of half of all Chinese men smoke: 49%. Only 2% of women smoke by comparison.

The Chinese tobacco industry produces over 2.3 trillion cigarettes every year. China's total production of cigarettes accounts for 40% of the world’s total — about four times more than the US, the second-largest tobacco-producing country, according to a 2012 paper on China's tobacco industry.

6. Estonia — 26%

36.3% of Estonian men smoke and 18.3% of women.

Smoking has been banned in public places since 2005, and restaurants and cafes since 2007, although smoking rooms are prevalent.

5. Hungary — 26.5%

31.9% of Hungarian men smoke and 21.7% of Hungarian women.

Since July 2013, the sale of tobacco has been limited to state-controlled, but privately owned,shops called Nemzeti Dohánybolt (National Tobacco Shops).

4. Chile — 29.8%

33.7% of men smoke compared to 27% of women.

AFP reports that the government is currently considering a tough new antismoking law that would force plain packaging, restrict smoking in parks and on beaches, and ban menthol cigarettes, which are smoked by 40% of all tobacco users.

3. Latvia — 34.3%

Latvia is one of only a few countries on the list where over 50% of men smoke — 52% to be precise. Just 17.6% of women smoke.

Black-market cigarettes make up an estimated 30% of the market, according to estimates, and 21% of Latvians admit to buying illegal alcohol, cigarettes, or gasoline in the past year,according to magazine The Baltic Course.

2. Indonesia — 37.9%

The gender gap in Indonesia is astonishing: A staggering 71.8% of men smoke, against just 4% of women.

Indonesia has taken some measures on tobacco control, including higher taxes and the implementation of pictorial warnings on cigarette packs, but is the only country in Asia not to have ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

The FCTC offers guidelines on reducing supply and demand to reduce tobacco use by 30% by 2025, Jakarta Globe reports.

1. Greece — 38.9%

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The biggest smokers in the OECD are the Greeks: 43.7% of men smoke in Greece and 34% of women do.

Like Latvia and many other countries on this list, Greece has a big problem with illegal cigarette smuggling. A recent report estimated that Athens could lose 1 billion euros a year in lost tax revenue by 2019 if it doesn't rein in the black market.

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