Tobacco use claims around 4 300 lives every year in Mongolia. The government is stepping up its efforts to fight the tobacco epidemic by introducing amendments into the Tobacco Control Law. In addition to tobacco, e-cigarettes are catching up as a serious threat, especially among the youth. 
E-cigarettes are harmful and are not smoking cessation alternatives. They contain nicotine and other substances such as heavy metals, cancer-causing chemicals, and toxic flavourings. Even products claiming to be nicotine-free have been found to contain it.
These products are aggressively marketed to the youth, with sweet flavours, flashy designs and through gamification, and influencers promoting them on social media. The result: a false image of fun and safety that masks serious health threats.
E-cigarettes are harmful to health:
E-cigarettes impair brain development in adolescents, increase the risk of anxiety and learning disorders, and lead to lifelong nicotine dependence.
The toxic chemicals in e-cigarettes can damage the lungs and contribute to heart diseases.
They are a pathway to nicotine addiction. Alarmingly, using e-cigarette triples the likelihood that youth will begin smoking traditional cigarettes.
A new study commissioned by WHO Mongolia reveals a worrying picture:
Nearly 60% of surveyed youth have tried e-cigarettes or vaping products.
1 in 3 adolescents are current users.
Among current users, nearly 1 in 5 vape 10 or more times per day, signs of growing addiction.
E-cigarette imports surged in 2024, making up nearly a quarter of all tobacco imports 
These findings were presented at High-Level Meetings held on 14–15 May 2025 in Ulaanbaatar. The event brings together parliamentarians, health leaders, partners and technical experts to:
Share the evidence.
Recommend urgent policy actions.
Build consensus on strong, protective regulations to protect youth.
Mongolia does not currently have comprehensive regulation on e-cigarettes. Similarly to conventional tobacco products, stringent regulations and a comprehensive ban should be introduced to protect the health of children, youth and the entire population. Without immediate policy intervention, e-cigarette use risks becoming deeply entrenched in the lives of Mongolia’s next generation, putting thousands at risk of lifelong addiction and long-term health harms.

Published Date:2025-05-27