Greece Background
Data sourced: 2025.   Page updated: 2025-11-05

In Greece, e-cigarettes are allowed. The country has established a comprehensive regulatory framework governing the manufacture and sale of e-cigarettes. Under this framework, online sales of e-cigarettes are permitted, and they are available through general retail outlets across the country. Health claims related to e-cigarette use are allowed under certain conditions, provided they comply with existing regulations. Advertising restrictions apply to prevent promotional activities. An excise tax is applied to e-cigarette products, amounting to up to 10% of the taxes levied on traditional cigarettes. Manufacturers and importers of e-cigarette products must notify authorities of new products prior to market entry. Packaging must include health warnings, and all containers are required to be child-resistant and tamper-proof. Additionally, sales are restricted to individuals aged 18 years and over, but there are no restrictions on flavour range. The maximum nicotine concentration permitted is 20 mg/ml, and tank capacity is limited to 2 ml or less, in accordance with EU rules.
As of 2023, Greece recorded approximately 176,800 current vapers. The adult current e-cigarette vaping prevalence was estimated to be 2% and the daily prevalence of e-cigarette use among adults was 1.6% in 2023. For reference, 27% of adults in 2017 reported having tried e-cigarettes at least once. Public perception data collected also in 2017 showed that 65% of respondents believed e-cigarettes to be harmful or more harmful than traditional cigarettes, 19% considered them less harmful, and 16% had no idea.

Prevalence

185,595
1
2021
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 5% 2A A
2019 2.9% 2B B
2021 2.07% 2C
2023 2% 2D
2023 2% 2E
References:
  1. Farsalinos K. Siakas G. Poulas K. Voudris V. Merakou K.and Barbouni A. (2018). Electronic cigarette use in Greece: an analysis of a representative population sample in Attica prefecture. Harm Reduction Journal. 15:20 Available at: https://harmreductionjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12954-018-0229-7
  2. WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-deu.pdf?sfvrsn=3c353f56_3&download=true. Accessed: 7 August 2025.
  3. European Commission. (2021). Special Eurobarometer 506: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes (S2240_506_ENG). European Commission. http://data.europa.eu/88u/dataset/S2240_506_ENG
  4. European Commission. (2024). Special Eurobarometer 539: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and related products [Dataset]. European Commission. https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2995
  5. Eurobarometer 539 2023 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Comments:
  1. This was a cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 4058 adults (aged 18+) living in Attica prefecture (35% of the Greek adult population) which was conducted in May 2017 through telephone interviews. Prevalence and frequency of e-cigarette use were assessed according to the smoking status, and logistic regression analysis was performed to identify correlates of use.It should be noted that this is a regional prevalence survey not whole country. However Attica has 35% of the adult Greek population. Correspondence with the author explained the data on estimated number of vapers are extrapolated to the Attica population (1/3rd of the Greek population). But the prevalence (5% of the population) could be reasonably applicable to the whole population of Greece. This would mean there are about 450,000 vapers in Greece (in an adult population of about 9 million).
  2. Adults survey: Health Interview Survey, 2019; National, ages 15+
3%
2
2023
2%
2
2023
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 1.8% 3A A
2023 1.6% 3B A
References:
  1. WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-deu.pdf?sfvrsn=3c353f56_3&download=true. Accessed: 7 August 2025.
  2. European Commission. (2024). Special Eurobarometer 539: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and related products [Dataset]. European Commission. https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2995
Comments:
  1. Adults survey: Health Interview Survey, 2019; National, ages 15+
  2. E-cigarettes with nicotine
27%
4 B
2017
References:
  1. European Commission. (2021). Special Eurobarometer 506: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes (S2240_506_ENG). European Commission. http://data.europa.eu/88u/dataset/S2240_506_ENG
  2. Eurobarometer 539 2023 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
  3. European Commission. (2024). Special Eurobarometer 539: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and related products [Dataset]. European Commission. https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2995
  4. Farsalinos K. Siakas G. Poulas K. Voudris V. Merakou K.and Barbouni A. (2018). Electronic cigarette use in Greece: an analysis of a representative population sample in Attica prefecture. Harm Reduction Journal. 15:20 Available at: https://harmreductionjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12954-018-0229-7
Comments:
  1. E-cigarettes with nicotine
  2. This was a cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 4058 adults (aged 18+) living in Attica prefecture (35% of the Greek adult population) which was conducted in May 2017 through telephone interviews. Prevalence and frequency of e-cigarette use were assessed according to the smoking status, and logistic regression analysis was performed to identify correlates of use.It should be noted that this is a regional prevalence survey not whole country. However Attica has 35% of the adult Greek population. Correspondence with the author explained the data on estimated number of vapers are extrapolated to the Attica population (1/3rd of the Greek population). But the prevalence (5% of the population) could be reasonably applicable to the whole population of Greece. This would mean there are about 450,000 vapers in Greece (in an adult population of about 9 million).

Product promotion

References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
Comments:
  1. Allowed or banned at place of sale or allowed or banned in all media.

Regulation

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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Allowed
2024 Allowed 1B
References:
  1. Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/
  2. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
Yes
2
Yes
2
References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
  2. Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/

Availability

References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.

Regulations and restrictions

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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier YES
2023 YES 1A
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=89. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier YES
2023 YES 1A
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=89. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier NO
2024 YES 2A
References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 Yes: 18 years 0A
2025 Yes: 18 years
NO
2
2024
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Yes
2024 Yes Equal or less than 20mg/ml 2A
References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
NO
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier YES
2023 2ml 1A
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=89. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=89. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
  2. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.

Perception of harm

References:
  1. Reference: European Commission (2017). Special Eurobarometer 458: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes Available at: http://data.europa.eu/euodp/en/data/dataset/S2146_87_1_458_ENG
Comments:
  1. Question asked in this survey did not compare harmfulness with cigarettes. The question used was 'Do you think they are harmful to the health of people who use them?' 65% - YES, 19% - NO, 16% DON'T KNOW

Tax

Up to 10% of those levied on cigarettes
1
2024
References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
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.