Profile
Norway Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Norway Background
Profile
Norway Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Data sourced: 2025.   Page updated: 2026-03-20

In Norway, smoking is legal but required to follow tobacco control regulations. Cigarettes are regulated as tobacco products which may be sold through retail outlets, vending machines, and online platforms. The importation of cigarettes for trade is allowed with a trade license. However, health warnings on packaging are obligatory, the legal minimum age for purchase is 18 years, and smoking in public places is subject to legal restrictions. A complete ban on all forms of tobacco advertising is also in place. Cigarettes in Norway are taxed at a total rate of 59.60%, including an excise rate of 59.6%.

Despite these control measures, smoking continues to present a significant public health burden in Norway. In 2024, the number of current smokers was approximately 589,000, corresponding to an overall adult current smoking prevalence of 12.7%. This was higher among males (14%) than among females (11.4%). The adult current smoking prevalence was 14% in 2022. The adult daily smoking prevalence in 2022 was reported to be 8%, representing approximately 360,698 daily smokers. In 2021, smoking resulted in approximately 3,724 deaths in Norway, including 2,303 deaths among males and 1,421 among females. This means that, tobacco smoking accounted for 8.88% of all deaths in the country in 2021, including 11.22% of all male deaths and 6.64% of all female deaths. These statistics underscore the continuing health impact of cigarette smoking in Norway.

Prevalence

589,000
1
2024
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Year Value Reference/Comment
1973 51% A
1974 50% A
1975 50% A
1976 48% A
1977 48% A
1978 48% A
1979 47% A
1980 45% A
1981 45% A
1982 45% A
1983 46% A
1984 45% A
1985 46% A
1986 46% A
1987 46% A
1988 46% A
1989 45% A
1990 44% A
1991 45% A
1992 44% A
1993 46% A
1994 43% A
1995 46% A
1996 45% A
1997 46% A
1998 44% A
1999 42% A
2000 41% A
2001 40% A
2002 40% A
2003 37% A
2004 37% A
2005 36% A
2006 33% A
2007 31% A
2008 29% A
2009 29% A
2010 29% A
2011 27% A
2012 26% A
2013 23% A
2014 22% A
2015 22% A
2016 20% A
2017 19% A
2018 19% A
2019 18% A
2020 17% A
2020 16% 2B
2021 15% A
2022 14% 2C B
2022 16% A
2023 15% A
2024 17% A
2024 12.7% 2D
2025 15% A
References:
  1. https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/05307
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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. Cohort: 16-79.
  2. Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2020 15% 1A
2022 13.2% 1B A
2024 11.4% 1C
References:
  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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. Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2020 16.9% 1A
2022 14.8% 1B A
2024 14% 1C
References:
  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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. Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
360,698
3
2022
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Year Value Reference/Comment
1973 42% A
1974 41% A
1975 41% A
1976 39% A
1977 38% A
1978 38% A
1979 37% A
1980 36% A
1981 36% A
1982 36% A
1983 37% A
1984 37% A
1985 37% A
1986 36% A
1987 37% A
1988 37% A
1989 36% A
1990 35% A
1991 35% A
1992 34% A
1993 36% A
1994 33% A
1995 33% A
1996 33% A
1997 34% A
1998 33% A
1999 31% A
2000 31% A
2001 29% A
2002 29% A
2003 26% A
2004 26% A
2005 25% A
2006 23% A
2007 21% A
2008 20% A
2009 20% A
2010 19% A
2011 17% A
2012 16% A
2013 15% A
2014 13% A
2015 13% A
2016 12% A
2017 11% A
2018 11% A
2019 9% A
2020 9% A
2021 8% A
2022 8% 2B
2022 8% A
2023 7% A
2024 8% A
2025 7% A
References:
  1. https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/05307
  2. Statistics Norway. ‘Tobacco, Alcohol and Other Drugs’. SSB, 18 January 2022. https://www.ssb.no/en/helse/helseforhold-og-levevaner/statistikk/royk-alkohol-og-andre-rusmidler.
Comments:
  1. Cohort: 16-79.
9%
4
2022
6%
4
2022
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Year Value Reference/Comment
1973 9% A
1974 9% A
1975 9% A
1976 9% A
1977 10% A
1978 10% A
1979 10% A
1980 9% A
1981 9% A
1982 9% A
1983 9% A
1984 8% A
1985 9% A
1986 10% A
1987 9% A
1988 9% A
1989 9% A
1990 9% A
1991 10% A
1992 10% A
1993 10% A
1994 10% A
1995 13% A
1996 12% A
1997 12% A
1998 11% A
1999 11% A
2000 10% A
2001 11% A
2002 11% A
2003 11% A
2004 11% A
2005 11% A
2006 10% A
2007 10% A
2008 9% A
2009 9% A
2010 10% A
2011 10% A
2012 10% A
2013 8% A
2014 9% A
2015 9% A
2016 8% A
2017 8% A
2018 8% A
2019 9% A
2020 8% A
2021 7% A
2022 8% A
2023 8% A
2024 9% A
2025 8% A
References:
  1. https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/05307
Comments:
  1. Cohort: 16-79. Value specified as ‘occasional’.
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. https://www.ssb.no/en/statbank/table/05307
  3. 1. Statistics Norway. ‘Tobacco, Alcohol and Other Drugs’. SSB, 18 January 2022. https://www.ssb.no/en/helse/helseforhold-og-levevaner/statistikk/royk-alkohol-og-andre-rusmidler. 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  4. Statistics Norway. ‘Tobacco, Alcohol and Other Drugs’. SSB, 18 January 2022. https://www.ssb.no/en/helse/helseforhold-og-levevaner/statistikk/royk-alkohol-og-andre-rusmidler.
Comments:
  1. Cohort: 16-79.
  2. Cohort: 16-79. Value specified as ‘occasional’.

Smoking-related mortality

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Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 6,207 1A
2021 3,724 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.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 2,891 1A
2021 1,421 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.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 3,316 1A
2021 2,303 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.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 14.94% 1A
2021 8.88% 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.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 13.6% 1A
2021 6.64% 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.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 16.1% 1A
2021 11.22% 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-nor.pdf?sfvrsn=e509251f_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 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-nor.pdf?sfvrsn=e509251f_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
Comments:
  1. There are certain restrictions in place.

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-nor.pdf?sfvrsn=e509251f_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
  2. World Integrated Trade Solution. 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: 27 November 2025.
Comments:
  1. There are certain restrictions in place.
  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-nor.pdf?sfvrsn=e509251f_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.

Tax

0.60
1 A
2023
0.60
1 A
2023
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-nor.pdf?sfvrsn=e509251f_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
Comments:
  1. 0.60
  2. Total taxation rate: 59.60%
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.