Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction logo
  • Home
  • Countries
  • Publications
    • Briefing papers
    • Major reports
    • Publications by language
    • Library
  • Press Releases
  • Nicotine FAQ

Smoking, vaping, HTP, NRT and snus in Australia

  1. Welcome to GSTHR
  2. Global Smoking and Tobacco Harm Reduction Database
  3. Smoking, vaping, HTP, NRT and snus in Australia
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on Telegram
Share on WhatsApp
Profile
Australia Flag
Cigarettes
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Australia Background
Profile
Australia Flag
Cigarettes
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT

12.5% of the adult population are current smokers

There are approximately 2.6 million current smokers in Australia

14.8% of men are current smokers but only 10.3% of women

Country profile
Data sourced: 2022.   Page updated: 2025-01-07

Smoking in Australia

In 2017-18, just under one in seven (13.8%) or 2.6 million adults were daily smokers, whilst a further 1.4% of people also reported smoking on a less than daily basis. Since 1995, the proportion of adults who are daily smokers has decreased from 23.8% to 13.8% in 2017-18. Over recent years however, the daily smoking rate has remained fairly constant (14.5% in 2014-15). Despite this, the proportion of adults who have never smoked has increased from 49.4% in 2007-08 to 52.6% in 2014-15 and 55.7% in 2017-18. In 2017-18, young adults aged 18-24 years were more likely to have never smoked than any other age group, with 69.6% of men and 81.5% of women in this age group reporting that they had never smoked. These proportions have increased from 64.0% and 64.9% respectively since 2007-08. The national Health Survey was conducted in all states and territories and across urban, rural and remote areas of Australia in 2017/18. The survey included around 21,000 people in over 16,000 private dwellings. Previous surveys have been conducted since 1989/90.

12,838

Deaths

In Australia, 12838 people die each year due to tobacco smoking.

95.4 million €

Market size of NRT.

NRT market size is estimated to be 95.4 million €.

Details & datasheet on smoking in Australia

Nicotine Vaping Devices

in Australia

In Australia the ban on the unauthorised sale, possession or use of nicotine preceded the arrival of e-cigarettes. By law nicotine is restricted and classified as a 'dangerous poison' in Australia. If it is used for therapeutic purposes, i.e. quitting smoking, nicotine products have to be registered under the Therapeutic Goods Act (1989). There are ways to legally access nicotine e-liquid, all of which require a prescription from a registered Australian medical practitioner. Few vapers use these methods, and few Australian doctors will write the relevant prescriptions. Australia has a strict regulatory environment for vaping, with a complex mix of federal and state laws. There are harsh penalties for possessing or using nicotine e-liquid (which vary from state to state), including jail sentences of up to two years and fines of up to AU$45,000. So far, no vapers have been convicted, although the threat is clear. Non-nicotine e-cigarettes are classified as legal consumer products. A new law was passed in South Australia in March 2019 which covers e-cigarette devices (but not nicotine) which restricts sales based on age (18+), vaping in public areas, and the sale of e-cigarette products without a license.

Details & datasheet on vaping in Australia

Heated Tobacco Products

in Australia

HTP is illegal to be marketed.

Details & datasheet on HTP in Australia

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

in Australia

Advertising of NRT is allowed.

Details & datasheet on NRT in Australia

Snus

in Australia

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.

Details & datasheet on snus in Australia

Pouches

in Australia

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

Details & datasheet on pouches in Australia

Top Stories from Australia

May 15, 2025 by yourlocalexaminer.com.au

Story

Vaping banned in WA workplaces

Vapes and e-cigarettes are now banned in enclosed workplaces in Western Australia under updated …

Regions: Oceania Australia

May 09, 2025 by ajp.com.au

Story

Is the tide turning on vapes?

Pharmacy ordering company Pharmx has noted a significant increase in demand for nicotine vapes, …

Regions: Oceania Australia

May 05, 2025 by westernstandard.news

Story

OLDCORN: Australia’s tobacco tax fiasco offers Canada a smoking hot warning

Australia's tobacco excise revenue plummeted to $7.4 billion AUD this year from $16.3 billion …

Regions: North America Oceania Australia Canada

April 28, 2025 by theconversation.com

Story

What are ‘penjamins’? Disguised cannabis vapes are gaining popularity among young people

Cannabis vaping has become popular in Australia, particularly among young people using discreet devices …

Regions: Oceania Australia

April 18, 2025 by eu-policies.com

Story

Australia’s growing vaping black market offers a regulatory warning Europe must heed

Released in late March, Australia’s latest federal budget reveals a striking trend: tobacco excise …

Regions: Oceania Australia

Powered by

Logo
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.
Country Search

Recently Visited

Loading...

No results found

KAC+Strapline.png

The GSTHR is a project run by Knowledge•Action•Change (K•A•C), a company dedicated to the promotion of harm reduction to improve health.

Useful links

Privacy policy About GSTHR Contact us

© 2018-2025 Knowledge•Action•Change

Example Title Just now
Dynamic Toast Example