Top Stories from Denmark
14% of the adult population are current smokers
There are approximately 678,547 current smokers in Denmark
Country profile
Data sourced:
2024.
Page updated:
2025-01-07
Smoking in Denmark
The overall smoking prevalence in Denmark has been decreasing since 2006. 18.6% of the adult population in Denmark are current smokers, down from 32% in 2006. This means there are now approximately 893,810 smokers in the country. 18.4% of men smoke and for women the figure is 18.7%.
The most recent data show there were 11,375 annual deaths from tobacco-smoking related diseases (approximately 5,400 women and 5,900 men). The annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking was 21.53% (women: 20.8%; and men: 22.2%).
Nicotine vapes (e-cigarettes) are legal in Denmark and there are 157,200 vapers in the country, giving an adult vaping prevalence of 3.23%. There is a requirement to ensure vape packaging contains a health warning, and they can only be sold to those 18 and older. Vaping devices can be purchased without a prescription but there are legal restrictions on their use in public places.
Heated tobacco products are legal and can be marketed, but the situation is a bit more complicated for snus. While it is illegal to import snus for trade or buy the product online, it is possible to import it 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 Denmark is worth €42.2 million.
For further information and full references, click through to the detailed datasheets above.
9,369
Deaths
9369 people die every year due to tobacco smoking in Denmark.
42.2 million €
Market size of NRT.
Estimated NRT market size is 42.2 million €.
Nicotine Vaping Devices
in Denmark
Denmark abides by the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) (2014). E-cigarettes that do not make health claims are regulated under the law on electronic cigarettes (Act no. 426 of 18th May 2016). Sales and use of e-cigarettes are legal, but the use of them is prohibited in some public places, including schools, childcare facilities and on public transportation. In workplaces and other public areas, a written policy on the rules for e-cigarette use is required. Advertising, promotion and sponsorship of e-cigarettes are prohibited whether they contain nicotine or not.
Heated Tobacco Products
in Denmark
Advertising of HTP is allowed.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in Denmark
In Denmark it is legal to purchase nicotine without using NRT prescription.
Snus
in Denmark
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 Denmark
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.