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Using snus in Norway

Profile
Norway Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Norway Background
Profile
Norway Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Data sourced: 2025.   Page updated: 2026-08-07

Snus is not banned in Norway, however the Norwegian Government restricted snus to plain packaging in 2017.

Prevalence

Year Value Reference/Comment
2004 336,203 1A A
2005 420,254 1A A
2006 378,229 1A A
2007 420,254 1A A
2008 378,229 1A A
2009 420,254 1A A
2010 420,254 1A A
2011 546,330 1A A
2012 504,305 1A A
2013 546,330 1A A
2014 588,356 1A A
2015 588,356 1A A
2016 595,421 1A A
2017 644,667 1A A
2018 694,195 1A A
2019 744,480 1A A
2020 751,729 1A A
2021 803,637 1A A
2022 856,659 1A A
2023 865,317 1A A
2024 920,191 1A A
2025 929,571 1A A
References:
  1. 1. https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/07692 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/
Comments:
  1. Cohort: 16-79. 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
2004 8% 2A A
2005 10% 2A A
2006 9% 2A A
2007 10% 2A A
2008 9% 2A A
2009 10% 2A A
2010 10% 2A A
2011 13% 2A A
2012 12% 2A A
2013 13% 2A A
2014 14% 2A A
2015 14% 2A A
2016 14% 2A A
2017 15% 2A A
2018 16% 2A A
2019 17% 2A A
2020 17% 2A A
2021 18% 2A A
2022 19% 2A A
2023 19% 2A A
2024 20% 2A A
2025 20% 2A A
Comments:
  1. Cohort: 16-79.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2004 168,102 1A A
2005 210,127 1A A
2006 252,152 1A A
2007 252,152 1A A
2008 210,127 1A A
2009 252,152 1A A
2010 252,152 1A A
2011 336,203 1A A
2012 336,203 1A A
2013 378,229 1A A
2014 378,229 1A A
2015 420,254 1A A
2016 425,301 1A A
2017 472,756 1A A
2018 520,646 1A A
2019 569,308 1A A
2020 574,852 1A A
2021 625,051 1A A
2022 676,310 1B
2022 676,310 1A A
2023 683,145 1A A
2024 690,143 1A A
2025 743,656 1A A
References:
  1. 1. https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/07692 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/
  2. 1. Statistics Norway. ‘Tobacco, Alcohol and Other Drugs’. SSB, 18 January 2022. https://www.ssb.no/en/helse/helseforhold-og-levevaner/statistikk/royk-alkohol-og-andre-rusmidler. 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/
Comments:
  1. Cohort: 16-79. 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
2004 4% 2A A
2005 5% 2A A
2006 6% 2A A
2007 6% 2A A
2008 5% 2A A
2009 6% 2A A
2010 6% 2A A
2011 8% 2A A
2012 8% 2A A
2013 9% 2A A
2014 9% 2A A
2015 10% 2A A
2016 10% 2A A
2017 11% 2A A
2018 12% 2A A
2019 13% 2A A
2020 13% 2A A
2021 14% 2A A
2022 15% 2B
2022 15% 2A A
2023 15% 2A A
2024 15% 2A A
2025 16% 2A A
References:
  1. https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/07692
  2. Statistics Norway. ‘Tobacco, Alcohol and Other Drugs’. SSB, 18 January 2022. https://www.ssb.no/en/helse/helseforhold-og-levevaner/statistikk/royk-alkohol-og-andre-rusmidler.
Comments:
  1. Cohort: 16-79.
8%
3
2022
21%
3
2022
Year Value Reference/Comment
2004 4% 2A A
2005 5% 2A A
2006 3% 2A A
2007 4% 2A A
2008 4% 2A A
2009 4% 2A A
2010 4% 2A A
2011 5% 2A A
2012 4% 2A A
2013 4% 2A A
2014 5% 2A A
2015 4% 2A A
2016 4% 2A A
2017 4% 2A A
2018 4% 2A A
2019 4% 2A A
2020 4% 2A A
2021 4% 2A A
2022 4% 2A A
2023 4% 2A A
2024 5% 2A A
2025 4% 2A A
Comments:
  1. Cohort: 16-79. Value specified as ‘occasional’.
References:
  1. 1. https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/07692 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/
  2. https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/07692
  3. Statistics Norway. ‘Tobacco, Alcohol and Other Drugs’. SSB, 18 January 2022. https://www.ssb.no/en/helse/helseforhold-og-levevaner/statistikk/royk-alkohol-og-andre-rusmidler.
Comments:
  1. Cohort: 16-79. 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/
  2. Cohort: 16-79.
  3. Cohort: 16-79. Value specified as ‘occasional’.

Regulation

References:
  1. Information obtained from industry source (2014 data)

Publications

May
2026

What is snus?

Used in Scandinavia for more than 200 years, snus is providing smokers in Sweden and Norway with an alternative to combustible cigarettes, but what is it and why is it considered a safer nicotine product? This Briefing Paper aims to provide the answers.

Jun
2025

Why is tobacco harm reduction needed and what is the evidence it works?

Our latest Briefing Paper explains the importance of tobacco harm reduction as well as providing a range of country case studies demonstrating the power of safer nicotine products to bring down rates of smoking.

Jan
2025

How snus is replacing smoking in Norway: a revolution led by consumers and product innovation

While Sweden recently became the first smokefree country, its neighbour, Norway, is also experiencing plummeting smoking rates. This Briefing Paper explores why so many Norwegians have switched from deadly cigarettes to much safer snus.

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.