Top Stories from Ireland
18% of the adult population are current smokers
There are approximately 717,042 current smokers in Ireland
21% of men are current smokers but only 15% of women
Country profile
Data sourced:
2024.
Page updated:
2025-01-07
Smoking in Ireland
18% of the population are current smokers, with 14% daily smokers and 4% occasional smokers. These figures are the same as those reported in 2021-2022.
Smoking is higher amongst men (21%) than women (15%) and higher amongst those who are unemployed or have not completed the Leaving Certificate.
33% of the population are ex-smokers. 49% of those who have smoked in the past year have attempted to quit smoking, with 23% of this group successfully quitting smoking. 58% used willpower alone, 25% used e-cigarettes, and 19% used nicotine replacement therapy.
8% of the population currently use e-cigarettes either daily (5%) or occasionally (3%), with a further 12% reporting they have tried them in the past but no longer use them. In 2022, 6% were current users of e-cigarettes.
A fifth (20%) of women aged 15-24 use e-cigarettes either daily or occasionally; the rate for men of the same age group is 16%.
Source: Healthy Ireland Survey 2023. (2023, November 22). Department of Health. https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/73c9d-healthy-ireland-survey-2023/#smoking
For further information and full references, click through to the detailed datasheets above.
3,836
Deaths
In Ireland, 3836 people die each year due to tobacco smoking.
27.1 million €
Market size of NRT.
NRT market size is estimated to be 27.1 million €.
Nicotine Vaping Devices
in Ireland
The Republic of Ireland abides by the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) (2014). The law relating to e-cigarettes is Statutory Instrument No. 271 of 2016, European Union (Manufacture, Presentation and Sale of Tobacco and Related Products) Regulations 2016. Nicotine-containing e-cigarettes are regulated as tobacco products. Vaping is not officially prohibited in public places, but many locations have imposed their own vaping bans. Domestic advertising is permitted within the confines of EU law and cross-border sales remain legal providing the retailer is registered with the government.
Heated Tobacco Products
in Ireland
Heated tobacco products must comply with existing tobacco control legislation in Ireland. Daily using HTP prevalence is at 0.4%.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in Ireland
Estimated NRT market size is 27.1 million €.
Snus
in Ireland
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 Ireland
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.