There are approximately 27.4 million current smokers in Russian Federation
36.1% of men are current smokers but only 12.1% of women
There has been a downwards trend in current smoking prevalence in the general population in the Russian Federation. Smoking prevalence was 42% overall in 2000, declining to 38% by 2015 with a further drop to 35% projected by 2025. This decrease has been driven by men's current smoking prevalence, which decreased from 69% in 2000 to 59% in 2015, with a further decrease to 53.5% projected by 2025. For women the trend in prevalence has been slightly upwards - it was 19% in 2000, increasing to 19.6% by 2015, and is projected to increase to 20% by 2025. The WHO published prevalence trend estimates in tobacco smoking, as shown here, in their 2018 2nd edition report, which show slightly different smoking prevalence to the WHO country profiles. Data for the estimates were obtained from WHO databases. The trend lines are projections, not predictions, of future attainment. A projection indicates a likely endpoint if the country maintains its tobacco control efforts at the same level that it has implemented them to date. Therefore the impact of recent interventions could alter the expected endpoint shown in the projection. While the methods of estimation used in the first and second editions of the WHO report are the same, the volume of data available for the second edition is larger i.e. 200 more national surveys. The results presented are therefore more robust.
224,008 annual deaths in Russian Federation are associated with tobacco smoking.
The estimated size of the NRT market is 23.2 million €.
In the Russian Federation, e-cigarettes are legally permitted but face certain regulatory measures. According to these regulations, there are no requirements for product notifications or for child-resistant packaging, although health warnings on packaging are mandatory. Flavour restrictions are in place, and nicotine content is set at 20 mg/mL. However, there are no legal prohibitions on public use of e-cigarettes. Buying e-cigarettes online or through vending machines is not permitted, and there is a complete ban on advertising.
In 2024, an estimated 5.1 million people in Russia were current vapers, corresponding to an adult current vaping prevalence of 4.4%. This was 3.8% among females and 5.2% among males. Earlier data from a 2016 survey indicate that 14.2% of respondents tried vaping at least once.
Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) are regulated and allowed in Russian Federation.
In the Russian Federation, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is legally allowed, including the sale and purchase of NRT products without a prescription from pharmacies. NRT products are included on the country’s essential drugs list, but the government does not cover NRT cost. The market size of NRT products in the Russian Federation was estimated to be € 23.2 million in 2019.
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.
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
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