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Tobacco smoking in Hungary

Hungary Background
Data sourced: 2025.   Page updated: 2025-10-30

Smoking is legally allowed in Hungary but some regulations exist for tobacco products. Based on these regulations, health warning on tobacco packaging is required, the minimum age restrictions on tobacco sales is 18 years and smoking is banned in public indoor places. It is also not legal to buy these products online and from vending machines. The total taxation rate of 72.01% with a specific excise of 27.25% is applied to cigarettes.

As of 2024, there were approximately 2.3 million current smokers in Hungary. This represents that the adult tobacco smoking prevalence was 28.1%, with a higher prevalence among males (31.1%) compared to females (25.4%) in 2024. There were 2.1 million daily smokers and the adult daily tobacco smoking prevalence was 22.1% in 2023. Tobacco smoking remains also a significant cause of mortality in Hungary. In 2021, smoking led to an estimated 17,000 deaths, including 5,200 deaths among females and 11,800 deaths among males. This shows that tobacco smoking accounted for 11.01% of all deaths that year, including 6.63% of female deaths and 15.47% of male deaths.

Prevalence

Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 2.5 million 1A
2024 2.3 million 1B
References:
  1. (1) WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition. (2) Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Ed.). (2019). World Population Prospects 2019 (Online Edition Rev. 1.; Population Division). United Nations. https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. 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
Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 27.1% 1A A
2019 30.6% 1B
2020 29.3% 1C
2022 29.4% 1D B
2023 26% 1E C
2024 28.1% 1F
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-hun.pdf?sfvrsn=752b893_3&download=true. Accessed: 10 June 2025.
  2. WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
  3. WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
  4. WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
  5. European Commission. (2024). Special Eurobarometer 539: Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and related products [Dataset]. European Commission. https://europa.eu/eurobarometer/surveys/detail/2995
  6. 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. Adults survey: European Health Interview Survey, 2019; National, ages 15+
  2. Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
  3. Smoking cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos or a pipe
Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 24.1% 1A A
2019 26.4% 1B
2020 24.5% 1C
2022 24.5% 1D B
2024 25.4% 1E
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-hun.pdf?sfvrsn=752b893_3&download=true. Accessed: 10 June 2025.
  2. WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
  3. WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
  4. WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
  5. 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. Adults survey: European Health Interview Survey, 2019; National, ages 15+
  2. Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 30.4% 1A A
2019 34.8% 1B
2020 34.6% 1C
2022 34.7% 1D B
2024 31.1% 1E
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-hun.pdf?sfvrsn=752b893_3&download=true. Accessed: 10 June 2025.
  2. WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
  3. WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
  4. WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
  5. 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. Adults survey: European Health Interview Survey, 2019; National, ages 15+
  2. Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
2.1 million
2 A
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier 25% 3A A
2019 24.8% 3B B
2023 22.1% 3C C
References:
  1. Special Eurobarometer 458. Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes. 2017. Available at :http://data.europa.eu/euodp/en/data/dataset/S2146_87_1_458_ENG
  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-hun.pdf?sfvrsn=752b893_3&download=true. Accessed: 10 June 2025.
  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
Comments:
  1. Calculated using Eurobarometer QB1 for current smoking & QB4aT for gender & frequency of smoking any tobacco item.
  2. Adults survey: European Health Interview Survey, 2019; National, ages 15+
  3. Boxed cigarettes
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier 21% 4A A
2019 22.2% 4B B
References:
  1. Special Eurobarometer 458. Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes. 2017. Available at :http://data.europa.eu/euodp/en/data/dataset/S2146_87_1_458_ENG
  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-hun.pdf?sfvrsn=752b893_3&download=true. Accessed: 10 June 2025.
Comments:
  1. Calculated using Eurobarometer QB1 for current smoking & QB4aT for gender & frequency of smoking any tobacco item.
  2. Adults survey: European Health Interview Survey, 2019; National, ages 15+
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier 29% 4A A
2019 27.7% 4B B
References:
  1. Special Eurobarometer 458. Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes. 2017. Available at :http://data.europa.eu/euodp/en/data/dataset/S2146_87_1_458_ENG
  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-hun.pdf?sfvrsn=752b893_3&download=true. Accessed: 10 June 2025.
Comments:
  1. Calculated using Eurobarometer QB1 for current smoking & QB4aT for gender & frequency of smoking any tobacco item.
  2. Adults survey: European Health Interview Survey, 2019; National, ages 15+
References:
  1. 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
  2. Special Eurobarometer 458. Attitudes of Europeans towards tobacco and electronic cigarettes. 2017. Available at :http://data.europa.eu/euodp/en/data/dataset/S2146_87_1_458_ENG
  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. 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-hun.pdf?sfvrsn=752b893_3&download=true. Accessed: 10 June 2025.
Comments:
  1. Calculated using Eurobarometer QB1 for current smoking & QB4aT for gender & frequency of smoking any tobacco item.
  2. Boxed cigarettes
  3. Adults survey: European Health Interview Survey, 2019; National, ages 15+

Smoking-related mortality

Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 26,081 1A
2021 17,003 1B A
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 9,432 1A
2021 5,168 1B A
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 16,649 1A
2021 11,835 1B A
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 21.85% 1A
2021 11.01% 1B A
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 14% 1A
2021 6.63% 1B A
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 26.3% 1A
2021 15.47% 1B A
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
References:
  1. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
  2. Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.

Product promotion

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-hun.pdf?sfvrsn=752b893_3&download=true. Accessed: 10 June 2025.

Regulation

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-hun.pdf?sfvrsn=752b893_3&download=true. Accessed: 10 June 2025.
Comments:
  1. There are some restrictions to consider.

Availability

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-hun.pdf?sfvrsn=752b893_3&download=true. Accessed: 10 June 2025.
  2. World Bank. Cigarettes containing tobacco imports by country in 2023. Available at: https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/ALL/year/2023/tradeflow/Imports/partner/WLD/product/240220. Accessed: 2 July 2025.
Comments:
  1. There are some restrictions to consider.
  2. An import license is required.

Regulations and restrictions

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-hun.pdf?sfvrsn=752b893_3&download=true. Accessed: 10 June 2025.

Tax

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-hun.pdf?sfvrsn=752b893_3&download=true. Accessed: 10 June 2025.
Comments:
  1. Total taxes: 72.01%

Publications

Retail volume of cigarette and HTP markets in selected countries

Heated tobacco product (HTP) sales have seen significant growth since 2016, in Asia Pacific and Western and Eastern Europe. In many countries, this has coincided with a drop in cigarette sales. Data on retail volume sales of cigarettes and HTP are both measured in sticks, but one HTP stick may not be a perfect substitute for people who smoke, as it contains a lower dose of nicotine than one cigarette. Nevertheless, retail volume sales figures do suggest varied substitution effects in the following countries:

  • approximately one–to-one substitution of HTP sticks for cigarettes: Hungary, South Korea, Italy, Germany.
  • cigarette sales drop faster than HTP sales increase: Slovakia, Czech Republic, Russia, Japan, Greece.
  • cigarette sales drop slower than HTP sales increase: Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Portugal.

See "The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction 2024: A Situation Report" for more information.


The European Union (EU) Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) 2016 Changes to the EU TPD

- No Fire, No Smoke: The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction

The TPD is a Directive of the EU which means that all EU countries must ‘transpose’ or incorporate the TPD requirements into their national laws. The only flexibility permitted is the ability to enact additional regulations. The current Directive entered into force on 19th May 2014 and became applicable in the EU Member States on 20th May 2016.

In 2014 a revised Tobacco Products Directive known as TPD 2 was issued by the EU to update the 2001 Tobacco Products Directive. TPD2 regulates all tobacco products in the European Union and its scope is wide. It covers product regulation in terms of reporting obligations of ingredients and emissions for all tobacco products. It includes product packaging and labelling including the size and appearance of products, traceability features to be fixed onto packaging as well as health warnings. It covers cross-border advertising of tobacco products; it reinforces the ban on oral tobacco products (snus), but importantly it provides for the placing on the market of e-cigarettes and refill containers, as well as making provision for notification of novel tobacco products. It also provides for herbal cigarettes.

See also p. 96 of the report: No Fire, No Smoke: The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction 2018 — Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (gsthr.org)


Prevalence of Daily Smoking in EU

- No Fire, No Smoke: The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction

Sweden now has the lowest level of smoking among men than for any other country in Europe. According to the European Commission’s Eurobarometer 2017 report, only five percent of Swedish men now smoke. This is only one fifth of the EU average of 24 percent. The Eurobarometer report indicates that all other EU countries have a smoking prevalence three to seven times greater than Sweden. So, something is clearly different about Sweden – and the clear difference is that snus is allowed in Sweden yet banned in the other 27 EU countries.

See also p. 49 of the report: No Fire, No Smoke: The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction 2018 — Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (gsthr.org)

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.