Saxony-Anhalt leads Germany in tobacco-related cancer deaths for 2024

Saxony-Anhalt recorded the highest rate of tobacco-related cancer deaths in Germany last year. The state saw 73 fatalities per 100,000 residents, well above the national average. New figures also reveal a heavy burden from chronic lung diseases linked to smoking.

In 2024, tobacco-related cancers claimed 1,560 lives in Saxony-Anhalt. The average age of death for these cases was 71, but a quarter of those who died were under 65. Another 955 residents succumbed to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a condition strongly tied to smoking.

Preliminary results from the 2025 microcensus show that 80% of women in the state do not smoke. For men, the non-smoking rate stands at 70%. Despite this, Saxony-Anhalt’s death rate from tobacco-related cancers remains the worst in the country. Saarland followed closely behind with 72 deaths per 100,000 residents. At the other end of the scale, Baden-Württemberg reported the lowest rate, at 41 per 100,000. Nationally, the average stood at 56 deaths per 100,000 people.

The data highlights a stark regional divide in smoking-related health outcomes. Saxony-Anhalt’s death rates from tobacco-linked cancers and COPD remain significantly higher than in other states. Public health officials will likely face continued pressure to address the issue.