You're reading: Over one third of people in Ukraine smoke

A total of 36% of Ukrainians smoke tobacco, including 31% of those who smoke every day, according to the results of a study, entitled "Main reasons for the high death rate in Ukraine" conducted by the World Bank, the results of which have been sent to the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia weekly newspaper.

The results of the survey exceed an average percentage of smokers in European region – 28.6% (according to the WHO).

Thus, men with primary education and women with higher education are inclined to smoking, including daily smoking, reads the World Bank report.

The average age that daily smokers start the habit is decreasing, and at present is 16 years. The smallest percentage of smokers is to be found in the west of the country (24.6%), while the largest is in the east (34%). Some 80% of daily smokers are men. In the younger age group there are four times as many smokers as in the older age group.