According to the Ministry of Health, the Chechen Republic ranked first among Russian regions for the lowest smoking prevalence. As of May 2026, the smoking rate in the region was only 0.53%.
The Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and Krasnodar Krai also ranked among the leaders in this indicator. In these regions, the percentage of smokers among adults (18 years and older) was recorded at 1.35% and 4.63%, respectively.
Also on the list with the lowest smoking rates were Ingushetia (6.01%), the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) (6.9%), and Dagestan (8.88%).
Smoking is one of the most dangerous addictions, triggering heart attacks. Long-term smoking is associated with a particularly high risk of persistent cognitive impairment and dementia. Inhaling tobacco smoke causes vascular spasms, disrupts blood circulation in the brain and limits the supply of oxygen to tissues.
