Cannabis Use by Country 2024

Cannabis (also known as marijuana, weed, or pot) is a substance that's seen a dramatic shift in laws and attitudes in recent decades in many parts of the world. As a result of this and other cultural factors, there can be wide disparities in cannabis use from one nation to another.

According to the most recent data, the number one country may surprise many - Papua New Guinea. Approximately 29.5% of residents of this Pacific nation have used cannabis in the previous year. They're followed closely by Canada, with 27%, and the island nation of Palau, with 24.2%. The United States comes in fourth place, with more than one in five Americans (21.9%) using pot in the previous year. That places the United States and Canada above the usage rates of many other Western nations, like the United Kingdom, which has just 7% reported use in the past year, France with 11%, and Germany with just over 7%.

Asian nations have among the lowest cannabis use rates, with China, Japan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, South Korea, and Taiwan all reporting less than half a percent of residents using the drug annually. Singapore reports a rate of zero, likely a reflection of the country's drug laws, which are among the world's strictest. The same goes for many Middle Eastern nations like Saudi Arabia (0.3%), Iran (0.58%), and Qatar (0.1%.) Countries in Africa have relatively high cannabis usage, with three countries - Ghana (21.5%), Nigeria (19.4%), and Zambia (14.8) - in the global top ten.

To be sure, it's always wise to view data on cannabis or other drug use with a skeptical eye. Information can vary in its recency, and drug users may be reluctant to reveal an illegal or discouraged habit to a survey, even given anonymously. Still, it shows cannabis can be found almost all around the globe - though how frequently it's used can vary quite a bit.