About

34.3% of the adult population are current smokers

There are approximately 2.0 million current smokers in Bulgaria

39.1% of men are current smokers but only 29.8% of women

Quick links to detailed datasheets for Bulgaria
Cigarettes E-cigarettes Snus Pouches HTP NRT
Country profile
Data sourced: 2022.   Page updated: 2023-10-10

Smoking in Bulgaria

The prevalence of current smokers in the general population in Bulgaria was the same (at 36%) in 2017 as the prevalence in 2006 (36%). Prevalence has fluctuated only very slightly during this period. These data come from the Eurobarometer surveys, the most recent of which was carried out in 2017. In the most recent survey a total of 27,901 respondents from different social and demographic groups were interviewed face-to-face at home, in their mother tongue, across all 28 of the EU countries. The sample for each country is representative, however the sample sizes are relatively small (e.g. most countries had just over 1000 participants, but for Italy, Malta and Lithuania the sample was around 500). Nevertheless, the Eurobarometer surveys are useful as they have estimates for smoking prevalence collected over a number of years which can show trends, as described here.

17,054

Deaths

17054 people in Bulgaria die from tobacco smoking-related diseases each year.

1.5 million €

Market size of NRT.

Estimated NRT market size is 1.5 million €.

Nicotine Vaping Devices

in Bulgaria

Bulgaria abides by the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) (2014). E-cigarettes that contain nicotine are regulated by Decree 89 (to Promulgate the Law on Amending and Supplementing the Law on Tobacco and Tobacco Products), and non-nicotine products are regulated as consumer products. E-cigarettes are regarded as "tobacco-related" rather than tobacco products as such, and are treated more leniently than tobacco. For example: vaping is allowed in areas where smoking is banned; product notification is free-of-charge; and there is no taxation on e-cigarettes. However, distance sales of e-cigarette products are banned.

Heated Tobacco Products

in Bulgaria

Advertising HTP is allowed.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy

in Bulgaria

Estimated NRT market size is 1.5 million €. In Bulgaria you don't need a prescription to purchase NRT. Advertising NRT is allowed. NRT is available in Pharmacy.

Snus

in Bulgaria

The sale of Snus is banned. Use of Snus is permitted by law in Bulgaria.

Pouches

in Bulgaria

Pouches are allowed.

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.