27.4% of the adult population are current smokers
There are approximately 1.3 million current smokers in Slovakia
32.3% of men are current smokers but only 22.8% of women
Smoking in Slovakia
The overall smoking prevalence in Slovakia has increased since 2006. 32.3% of the adult population in Slovakia are current smokers, up from 25% in 2006. This means there are now approximately 1.5 million smokers in the country. 38.6% of men smoke and for women the figure is 26%.
The most recent data show there were 8,099 annual deaths from tobacco-smoking related diseases (approximately 2,000 women and 6,100 men). The annual percentage of all deaths attributable to tobacco smoking was 18.47% (women: 7.6%; and men: 22.1%).
Nicotine vapes (e-cigarettes) are legal in Slovakia and there are 61,700 vapers in the country, giving an adult vaping prevalence of 1.34%. There is a requirement to ensure vape packaging contains a health warning, and they can only be sold to those 18 and older. Vaping devices can be purchased without a prescription but there are legal restrictions on their use in public places.
Heated tobacco products can be marketed but the situation is a bit more complicated for snus. While it is illegal to import snus for trade or buy the product online, it is possible to import it for personal use.
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can be marketed and it is available to buy in pharmacies without a prescription. The NRT market in Slovakia is worth €400,000.
For further information and full references, click through to the detailed datasheets above.
7,021
Deaths
7,021 people die every year due to tobacco smoking in Slovakia.
0.4 million €
Market size of NRT.
NRT market size is estimated to be 0.4 million €.
Nicotine Vaping Devices
in Slovakia
E-cigarettes are legal in Slovakia and are regulated as tobacco products. Consumers can purchase e-cigarettes online and through general retail outlets. The regulatory system for vaping in the country is structured. Based on that, notifications for new products, child-resistant and tamperproof packaging, and health warnings on e-cigarette packaging are all required. Health-related claims about their use are not allowed. Additionally, sales are limited to individuals aged 18 and above, and nicotine strength is capped at 20 mg/ml. While there are no flavour bans, use of e-cigarettes in public places is restricted.
As of 2023, there were approximately 136,700 current e-cigarette users in Slovakia. The adult current e-cigarette vaping prevalence was reported to be 3% and the adult daily e-cigarette vaping prevalence was estimated to be 1.7%. In 2017, public opinion about e-cigarettes in Slovakia showed that 36% of people believed e-cigarettes are less harmful than traditional cigarettes, while 48% of individuals considered them equally or more harmful, and 16% had no idea about it.
Heated Tobacco Products
in Slovakia
The prevalence of daily using HTP among adults is 2.7%.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in Slovakia
NRT is legal to market.
Snus
in Slovakia
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 Slovakia
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