In Iceland, e-cigarettes are allowed and regulated under certain framework. Online sales of e-cigarettes are legal, and the products are available through general retail outlets. However, all forms of advertising and promotion of e-cigarettes are prohibited. Additionally, notifications of new products must be submitted before market entry, and packaging is required to include clear health warnings. Child-resistant and tamper-proof containers are mandatory. The maximum nicotine concentration allowed is 20 mg/ml, and tank capacity is restricted to 2 ml or less. There are no restrictions on flavour range, but the use of e-cigarettes is legally restricted in certain public places. In terms of statistics, as of 2024, Iceland reported an estimated 15,436 current e-cigarette users. The adult current e-cigarette vaping prevalence was reported to be 6.4%.
Prevalence
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 10,628 | 1A A |
| 2020 | 14,880 | 1B |
| 2021 | 17,476 | 1C B |
- 1. Iceland direcorate of Health Newsletter, reported in Iceland Review. Available at:http://icelandreview.com/news/2018/05/03/vaping-linked-decrease-cigarette-smoking 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- 1. Tóbakskönnun by Gallup 2020 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- 1. WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-isl.pdf?sfvrsn=75e6a3fc_3&download=true. Accessed: 7 August 2025. 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- Daily use World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- Adults survey: Tóbakskönnun by Gallup, 2021; National, ages 18+ World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 4% | 2A A |
| 2020 | 5.5% | 2B |
| 2021 | 6.4% | 2C B |
- Iceland direcorate of Health Newsletter, reported in Iceland Review. Available at:http://icelandreview.com/news/2018/05/03/vaping-linked-decrease-cigarette-smoking
- Tóbakskönnun by Gallup 2020 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-isl.pdf?sfvrsn=75e6a3fc_3&download=true. Accessed: 7 August 2025.
- Daily use
- Adults survey: Tóbakskönnun by Gallup, 2021; National, ages 18+
- 1. WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-isl.pdf?sfvrsn=75e6a3fc_3&download=true. Accessed: 7 August 2025. 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-isl.pdf?sfvrsn=75e6a3fc_3&download=true. Accessed: 7 August 2025.
- Tóbakskönnun by Gallup 2020 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
- Adults survey: Tóbakskönnun by Gallup, 2021; National, ages 18+ World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
- Adults survey: Tóbakskönnun by Gallup, 2021; National, ages 18+
Product promotion
- Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Iceland. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/iceland/e-cigarettes?row=1228547. Accessed: 23 July 2025.
Regulation
| Year | Value | Reference/Comment |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 or earlier | Allowed | 1A A |
| 2024 | Allowed | 1B |
- Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/
- Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Iceland. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/iceland/e-cigarettes?row=1228547. Accessed: 23 July 2025.
- New laws being implemented in February 2019.
- Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Iceland. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/iceland/e-cigarettes?row=1228547. Accessed: 23 July 2025.
- Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/
- New laws being implemented in February 2019.
Availability
- Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Iceland. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/iceland/e-cigarettes?row=1228547. Accessed: 23 July 2025.
Regulations and restrictions
- Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Iceland. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/iceland/e-cigarettes?row=1228547. Accessed: 23 July 2025.
Publications
From cigarettes to snuff to nicotine pouches: the unusual Icelandic model for tobacco harm reduction
While snus has provided an increasingly popular off-ramp for those looking to switch away from smoking in Sweden and Norway, Icelanders have taken to a different selection of safer nicotine products, and this Briefing Paper uncovers the story of their rise.
Changes in the Prevalence of Smoking and Sales of Cigarettes and Snus in Iceland
- Burning Issues: The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction 2020
Iceland has witnessed a dramatic decline in smoking to 8.2% in 2019, and has the second lowest adult daily smoking rate in Europe after Sweden. A long-term decline in smoking accelerated in 2007 and again in 2012. Market data show, on a weight-for-weight basis, a continued decline in cigarette sales and an increase in snus sales. Prevalence of adult daily snus use was 3.2% in 2012 rising to 6% in 2019. Prevalence of adult daily e-cigarette use was 3.6% in 2017. It would appear that the uptake of snus and latterly of e-cigarettes has contributed to the long-term decline in smoking. Most significant is that smoking uptake among young people has virtually disappeared with only 3.3% of 18-24 year old smoking, and 0.8% of 16 year olds.
See also p.53 of the report: Burning Issues: The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction 2020
Prevalence of Current Smoking Cigarettes and Current Vaping
- Burning Issues: The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction 2020
Overall, as a percentage of the total adult population, current use of vaping devices in different countries ranges between 1% and 7%. As shown by this graphic there are eight countries where the prevalence of vaping is 3% or more including the UK, United Arab Emirates (UAE), US, France, Iceland, Belgium, the Russian Federation and Malaysia. The average prevalence of current vaping product use is 1.6 % of the adult population in the EU, as found in the EU Eurobarometer survey. A further 13% “used to use them, but no longer do so” or “have tried them once or twice”. 85.6% “have never tried or used them”. Levels of sometime vaping experience range up to 27% of the adult population in Greece, and 20% or above in Estonia, Czech Republic, France, Cyprus, Latvia and Austria. Clearly, there are many smokers who are interested in these products. But there is also a large gap between those who have shown enough interest to have tried vaping at some time, and those who have gone on to currently vape.
See also p.50 of the report: Burning Issues: The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction 2020