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
Country profile
Data sourced:
2025.
Page updated:
2026-06-16
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
In Slovakia, 7,021 people die each year due to tobacco smoking.
0.4 million €
Market size of NRT.
0.4 million € is the estimated market size of NRT.
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
In Slovakia, Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) are allowed for sale and use including sales through online channles. HTPs can be found in general retail stores. However, the law does not allow health benefit claims about these products and requires manufacturers to place health warning on their packaging. There are also restrictions on their flavours.
Available data show an increase of HTP users over recent year in Slovakia. The number of HTPs users in the country increased from an estimated 114,000 adult people in 2020 to an estimated 173,000 adult individuals in 2023. This represents that the prevalence of HTP use increased from 2.5% in 2020 to 3.8% in 2023. Also, daily use prevalence of HTP among adults increased from 2.1% in 2020 to 2.6% in 2023.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in Slovakia
In Slovakia, Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is legally allowed, including the sale and purchase of NRT products without a prescription from pharmacies. However, NRT products are not included on the country’s essential drugs list, therefore the government does not cover NRT cost. The market size of NRT products in Slovakia was estimated to be 0.4 million € in 2019.
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
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.