Use of tobacco and nicotine products
Smoking is unevenly distributed in the population, and there are significant differences between various groups based on education, income, and employment. The use of nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes is increasing among the population and is most common among individuals aged 16–29 years.
Tobacco smoking
Daily tobacco smoking is unevenly distributed in the population
The proportion of people who smoke tobacco daily has decreased since 2004, among both women and men. In 2024, 5.4 percent of the population aged 16–84 reported that they smoke every day (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Porportion of individuals aged 16–84 who smoke daily during the period 2004–2024, divided by gender.
Source: National Public Health Survey, Public Health Agency of Sweden.
Despite the decrease in daily tobacco smoking, clear differences between groups remain. For example, daily smoking is almost four times more common among individuals with pre-secondary education (11 percent) than among those with post-secondary education (3 percent) (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Proportion of individuals aged 25–84 who smoke daily during the period 2010–2024, divided by education level.
Source: National Public Health Survey, Public Health Agency of Sweden.
Lower proportion of young people smoke daily
In the youngest age group of 16–29 years, the proportion of daily smokers is the lowest at 2 percent in 2024 (Figure 3). In the age group of 65–84 years, the proportion of daily smokers is highest at 7 percent.
Figure 3. Proportion of individuals aged 16–84 who smoke daily during the period 2004–2024, divided by age.
Source: National Public Health Survey, Public Health Agency of Sweden
Higher proportion of young people smoke occasionally
Occasional smoking is roughly as common as daily smoking. In 2024, 6 percent of the population reported that they smoke occasionally. The highest proportion is found among individuals aged 16–29 years at 10 percent, while the lowest proportion is seen in the age group 65–84 years at 3 percent (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Proportion of individuals aged 16–84 who smoke occasionally in 2024, divided by age and gender.
Source: National Public Health Survey Health on Equal Terms, Public Health Agency of Sweden.
Snus
In 2022, the question about snus in the survey was changed to differentiate between different types of snus. Two separate questions were asked, one for the use of tobacco snus (contains tobacco and nicotine) and one for the use of nicotine pouches (contains only nicotine). The term 'snus' is used as a measure for both tobacco snus and nicotine pouches.
Total snus usage increases among young people
In 2024, 22 percent of men and 10 percent of women aged 16–84 reported that they use snus every day (Figure 5). In recent years, usage has increased after being relatively unchanged for a long time. The increase is particularly evident among women aged 16–29 years, where the proportion of daily snus users has risen from 3 percent in 2018 to 18 percent in 2024.
Figure 5. Proportion of individuals aged 16–84 who use snus daily during the period 2004–2024, divided by gender.
Source: National Public Health Survey, Public Health Agency of Sweden.
Higher proportion of young people use snus occasionally
In 2024, 4 percent reported that they use snus occasionally. The highest proportion is seen in the youngest age group (8 percent), and the lowest proportion in the oldest age group (1 percent) (Figure 6).
Figure 6. Proportion of individuals aged 16–84 who use snus occasionally in 2024, divided by age and gender.
Source: National Public Health Survey, Public Health Agency of Sweden.
Use of nicotine pouches is increasing, especially among young people
The use of nicotine pouches was first examined in the survey in 2022. In 2024, 5 percent of the population reported using nicotine pouches daily. Usage has increased across the population since 2022, particularly among young people aged 16–29 years (Figure 7). Among women aged 16–29 who use nicotine pouches daily, there was an increase from 10 percent in 2022 to 15 percent in 2024. Among men in the same age group, the proportion increased from 5 to 11 percent. The use is also increasing among men and women in the age groups 33–44 years and 45–64 years, but from lower levels.
Figure 7. Proportion of individuals using nicotine pouches daily in 2022 and 2024, divided by gender and age.
Source: National Public Health Survey, Public Health Agency of Sweden.
Use of tobacco snus is most common among men
It is primarily men who use tobacco snus, and usage is most common among men in the age groups 30–44 years and 45–64 years (Figure 8). Most people who use snus do so every day.
Figure 8. Proportion of individuals aged 16–84 who use tobacco snus daily or occasionally in 2024, divided by age and gender.
Source: National Public Health Survey, Public Health Agency of Sweden.
E-cigarettes
Use of e-cigarettes is increasing and is highest among young people
The use of e-cigarettes was first examined in the survey in 2018, and the question was slightly changed in 2020. In 2024, 4 percent of individuals aged 16–84 reported using e-cigarettes, with about a quarter doing so daily (Figure 9). The use is roughly the same among women and men. The use of e-cigarettes daily or occasionally has increased since 2020, especially among young people. Among young women aged 16–29, there was an increase from 2 percent in 2020 to 13 percent in 2024. Among men in the same age group, the proportion rose from 2 to 7 percent.
Figure 9. Proportion of individuals aged 16–84 who use e-cigarettes daily or occasionally in 2024, divided by age and gender.
Source: National Public Health Survey Health on Equal Terms, Public Health Agency of Sweden.
About the survey
The national public health survey, Health on Equal Terms, is an investigation of health, lifestyle habits, and living conditions conducted among individuals aged 16–84. From 2021 onwards, individuals aged 85 and older are included in the survey. Using the web-based tools and statistical databases Indicator Lab, Public Health Data, and Public Health Studio, you can obtain more statistics yourself. Daily tobacco smoking is one of the core indicators for monitoring the target areas in the public health policy framework.