Tobacco use: Mississippi 2026

Cigarette use: Mississippi*

• In 2024, 13.8% of adults in Mississippi smoked cigarettes. Nationally, the adult cigarette smoking prevalence was 11.6%.

• In 2018-2019, 46.8% of adults who smoked in Mississippi smoked menthol cigarettes. Nationally, 32.3% of adult smokers used menthol cigarettes during this period.

• In 2023, 5.1% of high school students in Mississippi smoked cigarettes on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the cigarette smoking prevalence among high school students was 3.5%.

Other tobacco product use: Mississippi*

• In 2024, 8.2% of adults in Mississippi used e-cigarettes. Nationally, the adult e-cigarette use prevalence was 7.7%.

• In 2024, 6.4% of adults in Mississippi used smokeless tobacco every day or some days. Nationally, the adult smoking tobacco use prevalence was 3.4%.

• In 2023, 17.9% of high school students in Mississippi used electronic vapor products on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the e-cigarette use prevalence among high school students was 16.8%.

• In 2023, 4.4% of high school students in Mississippi used chewing tobacco, snuff or dip on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the smokeless tobacco use prevalence among high school students was 2.3%.

• In 2023, 10.1% of high school students in Mississippi smoked cigars, cigarillos or little cigars on at least one day in the past 30 days. Nationally, the cigar use prevalence among high school students was 4.5%.

Economics of tobacco use and tobacco control

• Mississippi received $202.1 million (estimated) in revenue from tobacco settlement payments and taxes in fiscal year 2026.

• Of this, the state allocated $8.7 million in state funds to tobacco prevention in fiscal year 2024, 23.8% of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's annual spending target.

• Smoking-caused health care costs: $1.43 billion per year.

• Smoking-caused losses in productivity: $3.5 billion per year.

Mississippi tobacco laws

Tobacco taxes

• Mississippi is ranked 40th in the U.S. for its cigarette tax of 68 cents per pack (enacted May 2009), compared to the national average of $2.05. (New York has the highest tax at $5.35 and Missouri has the lowest at 17 cents).

• All other tobacco products are taxed at 15% of the manufacturer's list price.

• Mississippi requires remittance of tobacco excise taxes on out-of-state tobacco purchases.

Clean indoor air ordinances

• Smoking is prohibited in schools (public schools only) and childcare facilities.

• Smoking restrictions are required in government workplaces and at public facilities where an organized athletic event for persons under 18 is taking place.

• There are no smoking restrictions for private workplaces, restaurants, bars, casinos/gaming establishments, or retail stores.

• No smoke-free restrictions exist for e-cigarette use.

• E-cigarettes are not included in the state's indoor air laws or the state's definition of tobacco products.

Licensing laws

• Retailers and wholesalers are required to obtain a license to sell tobacco products.

• A license is not required to sell e-cigarette products.

E-cigarette Registry Laws

• Mississippi has a state directory of e-cigarette products that have received FDA marketing authorization, or have submitted a PMTA that is pending, or have received a marketing denial order that has been stayed by a federal court order or by the FDA, or rescinded by the FDA or vacated by a court.

Youth access laws

• In December 2019, the United States adopted a law raising the federal minimum age of sale of all tobacco products to 21, effective immediately.

• Establishments are required to post signs stating that sales to people under 21 are prohibited.

• People under 21 are prohibited from buying nicotine delivery products, including e-cigarettes.

• Possession of alternative nicotine products by students on educational property is prohibited.

• Internet sales of alternative nicotine products or any cartridge or component require third-party age verification.

Quitting statistics and benefits

• The CDC estimates 53.6% of daily adult smokers in Mississippi quit smoking for one or more days in 2019.

• In 2014, the Affordable Care Act required that Medicaid programs cover all tobacco cessation medications.**

• Mississippi's state quit line invests $2.17 per smoker, compared to the national median of $2.62.

• Mississippi does not have a private insurance mandate provision for cessation.

Notes and references