38.9% of the adult population are current smokers
There are approximately 2.3 million current smokers in Bulgaria
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.
Deaths
17,054 people in Bulgaria die from tobacco smoking-related diseases each year.
Market size of NRT.
Estimated NRT market size is 1.5 million €.
Heated Tobacco Products
in Bulgaria
Advertising HTP is allowed.
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.
Snus
in Bulgaria
Snus is banned. Use of Snus is permitted by law in Bulgaria.
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.