Saxony-Anhalt leads Germany in tobacco-related cancer deaths at alarming rates
Saxony-Anhalt recorded Germany’s highest rate of tobacco-related cancer deaths in 2024. The state saw 73 fatalities per 100,000 residents—well above the national average. New figures also reveal a younger age of death compared to other regions. A total of 1,560 people in Saxony-Anhalt died from tobacco-related cancers last year. The average age of death was 71, eight years below the national average of 79. One in four of these deaths involved individuals under 65.
The state also reported 955 deaths from COPD, a disease strongly linked to smoking. Despite this, recent data from the 2025 microcensus shows 80% of women and 70% of men in Saxony-Anhalt do not smoke.
Elsewhere in Germany, Saarland had the second-highest death rate at 72 per 100,000 residents. Baden-Württemberg recorded the lowest rate, with 41 deaths per 100,000. The national average stood at 56 per 100,000. Saxony-Anhalt’s death rate from tobacco-related cancers remains significantly higher than in other states. The data highlights a persistent regional disparity, with younger deaths and elevated COPD cases. Public health officials will likely examine these trends in future prevention efforts.
