Top Stories from Cyprus
31.7% of the adult population are current smokers
There are approximately 357,000 current smokers in Cyprus
45.4% of men are current smokers but only 17.9% of women
Country profile
Data sourced:
2025.
Page updated:
2026-06-16
Smoking in Cyprus
The prevalence of current smokers in the general population in Cyprus was 3% lower (at 28%) in 2017 than the prevalence in 2006 (31%). Smoking prevalence was between 30% and 32% during the rest of the 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.
1,169
Deaths
1,169 annual deaths in Cyprus are associated with tobacco smoking.
4%
e-cigarette vaping
According to the 2023 data, E-cigarettes use in Cyprus remained at 4%, suggesting a an increase pattern in consumption.
Nicotine Vaping Devices
in Cyprus
E-cigarettes are legally allowed in Cyprus. However, there are several regulatory measures for e-cigarettes. Their sale and use are permitted, but purchasing them online or from vending machines is prohibited. Advertising them is subject to certain restrictions. Notifications of new products are required, and all products must have child- and tamper-proof containers as well as health warnings on packaging. The minimum age for purchase is 18 years. Additionally, restrictions apply to nicotine content, which must not exceed 20 mg/mL, and to tank size, limited to 2 mL or less. There are also restrictions on flavour range, and the use of e-cigarettes in public places is restricted. In 2023, there were around 40,700 current vapers in Cyprus. The adult current e-cigarette vaping prevalence was 4%, and the adult daily e-cigarette vaping prevalence was 2.5%. Data from 2017 show that 21% of adults stated that they had ever tried e-cigarette vaping. A survey conducted in the country in 2017 on the perception of harm showed that 76% of adults believed e-cigarettes were harmful or more harmful than cigarettes, 11% thought they were not harmful or less harmful than cigarettes, and 13% did not know.
Heated Tobacco Products
in Cyprus
Heated tobacco products (HTPs) are regulated as novel tobacco products and are allowed in Cyprus.
Available data show that HTP use has increased in Cyprus in recent years. In 2023, an estimated 52,969 adults were current HTP users, representing 5.2% of the adult population. This shows a remarkable rise from 30,000 HTP users in 2020 (3.0%). Daily use of HTPs among adults has also increased, reaching 3.6% of the popluation in 2023 compared to 2.2% of the population in 2020. In a survery in 2023, 3.4% of the respondents stated that they had tried HTP at least once.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in Cyprus
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is allowed in Cyprus, including the sale and purchase of NRT products without a prescription from pharmacies. NRT products are included on the country’s essential drugs list, therefore the government fully covers NRT cost.
Snus
in Cyprus
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.
Pouches
in Cyprus
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.