Cigarette Tax Scorecard (4th Edition): Spotlight on Western Pacific Region

This Policy Brief was written based on the findings of the fourth edition Cigarette Tax Scorecard. The policy brief evaluates the cigarette tax policies in the Western Pacific. In 2024, the average score in the region was 1.92 points out of 5, demonstrating that there is significant room for improvement. The overall score is an average of the following components: the cigarette price, changes in affordability, the tax share of the price, and the excise tax structure used. The Western Pacific region performed best on tax structure, with an average score of 2.87 points. Tax structures in the region are somewhat effective but there remains room for improvement in many countries. The region performed most poorly in reducing the affordability of cigarettes over time, earning an average score in that component of just 0.34 points out of 5. The prices of cigarettes in most countries have not even been keeping up with inflation or income growth. Cigarette tax policies varied throughout the region. The top performer was the Philippines, with a score of 3.75 points, while Marshall Islands received the lowest score in the region with only 0.25. This brief provides further recommendations for governments in the region to address these challenges and improve public health while raising tax revenues.