Tobacco consumption trends in the European Union

Tobacco and nicotine product consumption in the European Union is showing a downward trend. According to Eurostat data for 2025, one in six people aged 16 or older in the EU consumes tobacco or related products, such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, on a daily basis.

Daily consumption rates show a gender gap, with 20.8% of men using these products compared to 12.6% of women. This represents a slight decrease from 2022 levels. Among different age groups, those aged 35 to 49 report the highest daily usage at 21.3%, followed by the 25–34 age group at 19.9%.

Regional differences remain significant. Bulgaria (26.3%), Sweden (23.9%), and Croatia (23.6%) report the highest daily consumption rates in the EU. Conversely, the Netherlands (9.9%), Ireland (11.7%), Belgium (13.6%), and Luxembourg (13.8%) have the lowest rates.

The World Health Organization reports that tobacco causes 1.1 million deaths annually in Europe, including 153,000 deaths from secondhand smoke exposure. Tobacco is linked to 71% of lung cancer deaths in men and 46% in women. In response, the EU has set a target to reduce tobacco consumption to below 5% of the population by 2040 as part of its European plan to fight cancer.