9.4% of the adult population are current smokers
There are approximately 25,900 current smokers in Iceland
Country profile
Data sourced:
2022.
Page updated:
2025-01-07
Smoking in Iceland
The overall smoking prevalence in Iceland has decreased since 2000. 13.8% of the adult population in Iceland are current smokers, down from 30% in 2000. This means there are now approximately 37,251 smokers in the country. 13.9% of men smoke (down from 33% in 2000) and for women the figure is 13.7% (down from 27% in 2000).
The most recent data show there were 365 annual deaths attributable to tobacco smoking (190 women and 175 men). The annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking was 16.35% (women: 17.4%; and men: 15.2%).
Nicotine vapes (e-cigarettes) are legal in Iceland and the current adult vaping prevalence of 4%. Vapes are regulated as both consumer and medicinal products in Iceland.
Heated tobacco products cannot be marketed, and while Swedish snus is banned, Icelanders import a slightly different cut of what is officially known as nasal tobacco.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can be marketed and it is available to buy in many general shops without a prescription.
For further information and full references, click through to the detailed datasheets above.
258
Deaths
258 people die every year due to tobacco smoking in Iceland.
4%
e-cigarette vaping
The prevalence of current e-cigarette vaping among adults is 4%.
Nicotine Vaping Devices
in Iceland
The Icelandic government is the first government to vote in a law specific to electronic cigarettes with no ties to tobacco regulation. The law came into force on February 1st 2019, after a long legal battle with lobby groups. Since 2014, with no legislation in place, tobacco consumption fell by 40% in Iceland, whilst there was a growth in the snus and e-cigarette market. For under 18's, the smoking rate is under 2%. In 18-24-year-olds, there are twice as many vapers as there are smokers. The new law allows the advertising of vaping products, and there will be no volume limitation on e-liquids, although nicotine content will be limited to 2%. There will be a tax of 0.9% applied to vaping products which will go towards anti-smoking initiatives.
Heated Tobacco Products
in Iceland
Heated tobacco products are not regulated in Iceland. You can't advertise HTP in Iceland.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in Iceland
In Iceland it is legal to purchase nicotine without using NRT prescription.
Snus
in Iceland
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 Iceland
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.