Turning the Tide: How the Maldives is Saying NO to Tobacco

Sofia Shankar
Jul 8
3 min read

This story contains themes such as smoking and nicotine addiction. Please read at your own discretion, and seek help when you are struggling with or triggered by one of the themes discussed at;

https://www.childline.org.uk/

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/

The Maldives, the Island Nation world-renowned for its pristine beaches and azure ocean, has made headlines for a completely different reason this week.

On Saturday, 1^st November 2025, the archipelago’s health ministry announced the official ban of using and purchasing Tobacco for anyone born after January 1^st, 2007 (including tourists). This is the culmination of the work done through the years with criminalising the importation and use of electronic cigarettes and vapes, applicable to all ages.

Why such drastic measures?

Although a small country of 527,799 citizens, the Maldives are unfortunately included within studies as one of the nations with the highest population of smokers in the world. According to the Washington Post, over 9.4% of the smoking population are teenagers aged 14-18. This raises great concern on the health of young generation as well as the easy availability of nicotine. Statistically, as one in four Maldivians above 15 years of age are estimated to be smokers (113,414 people), this is an issue of great importance, as regular smoking progresses into adulthood addiction and later long-term health concerns.

Smoking not only impacts the users, but also the country’s economy. On average, the country’s economy covers around 42,948,818 USD annually on health expenditures and loss of productivity due to illness or death.

This existential threat extends further into the environment and society. Being an island nation, the Maldives is at great risk of climate change and global warming- the rising ocean levels and damaged coral reefs are a concerning growing trend which is beginning to gain attention. Cigarettes are considered one of the main sources of pollution, as according to the Ocean Conservancy, around 60 million cigarette butts are found annually in ocean filters since 1982, which is more than plastic or glass bottles.

Who has taken action?

UNICEF has collaborated alongside the local government to officially endorse the ban. The Generation ban is promoted by the government as a reflection of its “strong commitment to protecting young people from the harms of tobacco.”

Prior to November 1^st, UNICEF created youth groups that included individuals who wanted to act against the rising use of tobacco and spread awareness. These inspiring groups began holding open discussion UNICEF events and hosting awareness programs in schools to communicate the impact of smoking on the younger population. Notably, they also held a survey to investigate the reasons why, and number of, people that smoke amongst the ages of 16-20 in the Maldives. The findings of the study issued “that nearly 90 percent of Maldivian youth are aware that tobacco is harmful. But social and media pressure continue to undermine prevention efforts”. Furthermore, 47% of the respondents – 105 students aged 16 to 20 – were confident about refusing tobacco, but 63% viewed smoking as a way of integrating into the community, feeling under peer pressure to join the smoking culture that social media portrays as a sign of maturity. The data collected brings even more emphasis on the importance of the Generational ban as a means of preventing this increase, and an action towards ending early-age tobacco consumption.

What’s the next stage?

The Maldives is now a leading example on how to act against tobacco, being currently the only country in the world to pass legislation to criminalise young people and all subsequent future generations from purchasing tobacco- a great example for other nations to follow. They chose the path of educating society on the long-term harms of nicotine and designed societal reform. With smoking being a global concern, other countries like Timur-Leste and Indonesia should take similar considerations, and work towards improving their youth populations’ health. The Maldives achieved this in part, by hosting youth panels and inviting younger generations to be involved in planting the foundation for a greater future; free from the unnecessary pollution and numerous risks of nicotine addiction. This will indubitably become an achievement that will be honoured in the annals of history as an extraordinarily significant event towards a healthier humanity.