Top Stories from United Kingdom
11.9% of the adult population are current smokers
There are approximately 7.2 million current smokers in United Kingdom
14.6% of men are current smokers but only 11.2% of women
Country profile
Data sourced:
2024.
Page updated:
2025-03-04
Smoking in United Kingdom
As of 2022, the prevalence of adult smoking in the United Kingdom was recorded at 12.9%, according to the Annual Population Survey from the Office for National Statistics. This figure represents a decrease from the 14.3% prevalence noted in 2020. Specifically, the prevalence among males was 14.6% in 2022, down from 16.2% in 2020, while among females, it stood at 11.2% in 2022, a decrease from 12.5% in 2020. The total number of current smokers in 2022 was estimated at approximately 6.4 million, showing a decline from the 7.9 million recorded in 2020. These statistics reflect ongoing efforts and public health initiatives aimed at reducing smoking rates across the UK. Regulatory measures, such as increased taxation on tobacco products and public smoking bans, have contributed to this downward trend, aligning with the broader global aim to decrease tobacco consumption as outlined by the World Health Organization.
75,848
Deaths
75848 people die every year due to tobacco smoking in United Kingdom.
165.4 million €
Market size of NRT.
Estimated NRT market size is 165.4 million €.
Nicotine Vaping Devices
in United Kingdom
The UK abides by the European Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) (2014), despite having left the EU. E-cigarettes are regulated under the UK Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 (SI 2016 no. 507). This covers all of the UK, however the devolved nations may choose to apply greater restrictions. Manufacturers must provide detailed information regarding all new e-cigarette products to the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Advertising is allowed on billboards and at point of sale but not on TV and radio. Legally, there are no restrictions on where you can vape, but companies, public transport and public buildings implement their own restrictions. E-cigarettes are subject to a 20% Value Added Tax (VAT); however, if they are regulated as medicines, a 5% tax is levied instead. No 'medicinal' products are currently available.
Heated Tobacco Products
in United Kingdom
Advertising of HTP is allowed.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in United Kingdom
You can buy NRT in many general shops without a prescription.
Snus
in United Kingdom
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.
Pouches
in United Kingdom
Nicotine pouches are a relatively new product which can provide users of high-risk tobacco with an alternative that poses fewer risks to their health. Read more about nicotine pouches in our briefing paper
The GSTHR database is updated regularly by our team.
However, please be aware that the information we provide does not constitute legal advice.
We cannot guarantee that the information is up to date or accurate, as the regulatory status of different product
categories can change at short notice and with little publicity.
If you wish to check the legal status of use or possession of any safer nicotine product in a specific country or region,
you should verify the information independently.
If you have reason to think that the information supplied on the GSTHR is inaccurate, please contact us with details
and any references and we will rectify any errors.