Top Stories from Switzerland
23.3% of the adult population are current smokers
There are approximately 1.7 million current smokers in Switzerland
Country profile
Data sourced:
2022.
Page updated:
2025-01-07
Smoking in Switzerland
The overall smoking prevalence in Switzerland has been decreasing since 2000. 25.1% of the adult population in Switzerland are current smokers, down from 30% in 2000. This means there are now approximately 1.8 million smokers in the country. 27.8% of men smoke and for women the figure is 22.5%.
The most recent data show there were 8,559 annual deaths from tobacco-smoking related diseases (approximately 3,000 women and 5,500 men). The annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking was 13.88% (women: 8.8%; and men: 16.7%).
Nicotine vapes (e-cigarettes) are legal in Switzerland. There is a requirement to ensure vape packaging contains a health warning, they can be purchased without a prescription and there are legal restrictions on their use in public places.
Heated tobacco products are allowed and can be marketed. Snus is also allowed and can be imported for personal use.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can be marketed and it is available to buy in pharmacies without a prescription. The NRT market in Switzerland is worth €14.8 million.
For further information and full references, click through to the detailed datasheets above.
7,348
Deaths
7348 people die every year due to tobacco smoking in Switzerland.
14.8 million €
Market size of NRT.
Estimated NRT market size is 14.8 million €.
Nicotine Vaping Devices
in Switzerland
There is no specific law regarding e-cigarettes. Regulations that will regulate nicotine-containing e-cigarettes as tobacco products are under development. In 2019, new policies were implemented that banned smoking and e-cigarette use in public areas of train stations. Vapers must now stick to designated smoking areas. If you have an update please e-mail the GSTHR team.
Heated Tobacco Products
in Switzerland
In Switzerland, heated tobacco products are considered tobacco products, therefore they can be marketed like other tobacco products. Heated tobacco products do not have to be subjected to preliminary approval. However, they differ to tobacco products in that the health warnings and taxation levels do not correspond to those of cigarettes. Advertising of HTP is allowed.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in Switzerland
In Switzerland it is legal to purchase nicotine without using NRT prescription.
Snus
in Switzerland
In May 2019, the ban on the sale of snus in Switzerland was lifted by the public law department following a challenge. Previously, the sale of oral tobacco in the form of powder or fine particles was illegal - this included snus.
Pouches
in Switzerland
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
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.