Top Stories from Norway
14% of the adult population are current smokers
There are approximately 631,222 current smokers in Norway
Country profile
Data sourced:
2024.
Page updated:
2025-01-07
Smoking in Norway
The overall smoking prevalence of daily smoking in Norway reduced significantly from 21% in 2008 to 11% in 2017 amongst adults aged 16-74. During that period the smoking prevalence for men reduced from 21% to 12%, and for women it went down from 21% to 10%.
The most recent data show there were 6,207 annual deaths from tobacco-smoking related diseases (approximately 2,900 women and 3,300 men). The annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking was 14.94% (women: 13.6%; and men: 16.1%).
Nicotine vapes (e-cigarettes) are legal in Norway. They can only be sold to those 18 and older and can be purchased without a prescription but there are legal restrictions on their use in public places.
Heated tobacco products are banned in Norway but snus is allowed. Snus is regulated as a tobacco product. It can be imported for trade or personal use and it can also be bought online. A health warning is required on packaging, it can only be bought by those aged 18 and over, and there are no restrictions on flavour range.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can be marketed and it is available to buy in many general shops without a prescription. The NRT market in Norway is worth €48.8 million.
For further information and full references, click through to the detailed datasheets above.
3,724
Deaths
3724 people in Norway die from tobacco smoking-related diseases each year.
48.8 million €
Market size of NRT.
Estimated NRT market size is 48.8 million €.
Nicotine Vaping Devices
in Norway
The Norwegian Parliament voted in December 2016 in favour of lifting the ban on nicotine containing e-cigarettes. The new regulation has to be incorporated into the trade agreement for the European Economic Area EEA and the EU. Under the 2017 Smoking Act, vaping is banned in all places covered by Norway’s smoking ban, and all e-cigarette advertising is prohibited under the Tobacco Injury Act.
Heated Tobacco Products
in Norway
Heated tobacco products are prohibited in Norway under Regulation no. 1044 of 13 October 1989 Concerning the Prohibition against New tobacco and Nicotine Products.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in Norway
NRT are available in many general shops without a prescription.
Snus
in Norway
Snus is not banned in Norway, however the Norwegian Government restricted snus to plain packaging in 2017.
Pouches
in Norway
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.