Indonesia Launches National Stop Smoking Movement

Indonesia is grappling with a severe public health crisis as the number of active smokers reaches 70 million, with an alarming 7.4% of teenagers aged 10-18 now using tobacco. The Ministry of Health (Kemenkes) has warned that without decisive action, overall smoking prevalence could hit 37.5% by 2025. This concerning trend is exacerbated by a tenfold increase in e-cigarette (vape) use by 2023 and a dramatic surge in child smokers, some initiating the habit as young as four years old.

Siti Nadia Tarmizi, Director of Non-Communicable Disease Control at the Ministry of Health, stated that while the percentage of smokers has seen some decline over longer periods, the absolute number has increased, especially among those over 15 and new young smokers. The latest 2023 Individual Consumption Survey (SKI) reveals a particularly troubling picture for youth: the number of smokers aged 10-18 has skyrocketed to 5.9 million, a nearly threefold increase from 2 million in 2013. Dr. Nadia described this as a “failure in efforts to protect children,” noting that 2.6% of young smokers started between ages 4-9, and 44.7% between 10-14. By ages 15-19, 52.8% had started, with a staggering 72.6% of this group smoking daily.

The ease of access to tobacco products for minors is a critical issue, with 71.3% of teenagers reportedly buying cigarettes by the stick and 60.6% never being prevented from purchasing them. This is compounded by high exposure to secondhand smoke, with SKI data showing 70% of children and adolescents are exposed in closed spaces.

Vaping is also a growing concern. Data from Riskesdas 2018 and SKI 2023 indicates that e-cigarette use has doubled. Dr. Nadia acknowledged that while vapes don’t burn tobacco and thus lack tar, “most still contain nicotine,” and some smokers switch due to appealing flavors. However, Dr. Agus Dwi Susanto, Advisor to the Indonesian Lung Doctors Association (PDPI) Central Board, warned that vaping is not a safe solution, as e-cigarettes “contain dangerous substances such as acetaldehyde, acrolein, formaldehyde, diacetyl… heavy metals, and carcinogens that trigger lung diseases.”

The health and economic toll is immense. Cigarettes are linked to 268,614 deaths (12.3% of total deaths) annually in Indonesia, with economic losses estimated at IDR 288 trillion. The cost of medical treatment for smoking-related diseases can reach three times the state’s income from tobacco excise.

In response, the government launched a National Stop Smoking Movement on June 11, 2025, in Jakarta, collaborating with PDPI and private sector partner Kenvue. This movement promotes an evidence-based approach, including the use of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) like gum and patches, which are clinically proven to aid cessation and recommended by WHO and BPOM (Indonesian FDA) under medical supervision. Policy support includes PP No. 28 of 2024 and Health Law No. 17 of 2023, which strengthen cessation services. The government aims to have Smoking Cessation Efforts (UBM) services available in all community health centers by 2029, integrated with the SATUSEHAT data platform. Dr. Nadia emphasized the need for collaborative efforts from all societal sectors to protect the younger generation.

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Matthew Ma

Marketing at Ecigator

With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.