There are approximately 15.7 million current smokers in France
The overall smoking prevalence in France has gone up since 2006. 34.6% of the adult population in France are current smokers, up from 33% in 2006. This means there are now approximately 18.4 million smokers in the country. 36% of men smoke, whilst for women this figure is 33.2%.
The most recent data show there were 73,545 annual deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (approximately 18,800 women and 54,700 men). The annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking was 15.4% (women: 6.4%; and men: 18.5%).
Nicotine vapes (e-cigarettes) are legal in France and there are 3 million vapers in the country, giving an adult vaping prevalence of 5.59%. There is a requirement to ensure vape packaging contains a health warning, and vapes can only be sold to those aged 18 and older. Vaping devices can be purchased without a prescription but there are legal restrictions on their use in public places.
Heated tobacco products are legal and can be marketed, but the situation is a bit more complicated for snus. While it is illegal to import snus for trade or buy the product online, it is possible to import it for personal use.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products can be marketed and are available to buy in pharmacies. The NRT market in France is worth €125 million.
For further information and full references, click through to the detailed datasheets above.
Annual deaths linked to tobacco smoking in France total 54,940.
The market for NRT is estimated at 125.0 million €.
In France, e-cigarettes are allowed and regulated both as consumer products and as medicinal products. Online sales of e-cigarettes are permitted, and they are widely available in general retail outlets. However, health claims promoting e-cigarettes are not allowed, and there is a complete ban on all forms of advertising. Unlike some other European countries, France does not currently impose an excise tax on e-cigarette products. The country has a comprehensive regulatory framework governing e-cigarette manufacture and sale. Under these regulations, product notifications are required prior to market entry, and child-resistant and tamper-proof containers are mandatory. Health warnings must be clearly displayed on all packaging. Additionally, sales are restricted to individuals aged 18 years and above, and the maximum nicotine concentration is limited to 20 mg/ml. There are also tank capacity restrictions (2 ml or less) in line with European Union regulations. France does not impose flavour restrictions, but the use of e-cigarettes is prohibited in certain public places.
As of 2021, France recorded approximately 3 million current vapers. The adult current vaping prevalence was 8.3% in 2023 and daily vaping prevalence was 4.6% in 2022 (2.5 million daily vapers). Survey data from 2017 show that 24% of adults reported having tried e-cigarette vaping at least once. Public perception data collected in 2017 indicate that 62% of respondents viewed e-cigarettes as harmful or more harmful than traditional cigarettes, while 21% believed they were less harmful, and 17% were unsure.
Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) are regulated as novel tobacco products and are allowed in France. They can be legally sold and used. However, their online sales are not legal. The law requires health warnings on HTPs' packaging, and enforce restrictions on their flavours. Health benefit claims regarding these products are not allowed.
Available data show that the number of HTP users in France shows to have decreased in recent years from an estimated 424,000 adult individuals to 161,000 people in 2023. In other words, the prevalence of HTP use has decreased from 0.8% in 2020 to 0.3% in 2023. Daily use prevalence of HTPs among adults shows to be same in 2020 and 2023 (0.1%).
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is allowed in France. This includes the sale and purchase of NRT products without a prescription from pharmacies. NRT products are not included on the country’s essential drugs list, but the government partially covers NRT cost. The market size value of NRT products in France was estimated to be € 125 million in 2019.
Used in Scandinavia for more than 200 years, snus is providing smokers in Sweden and Norway with an alternative to combustible cigarettes. Find out what it is, and why it is considered a safer nicotine product in our briefing paper.
France has banned nicotine pouches, including their manufacture, sale, online purchase, possession, use, and import for personal use since April 2026.
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