Profile
Uruguay Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Uruguay Background
Profile
Uruguay Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Data sourced: 2025.   Page updated: 2026-01-29

In Uruguay, sale, importation, registration as a brand/patent, and promotion of e-cigarettes are explicitly banned by decree No. 534/009 (2009) and amendment No. 299/017 (2017). Its use is also prohibited in public places. Despite the ban, the data indicate that the number of current vapers in the country was estimated to be 5,536 as of 2024. The adult current e-cigarettes vaping prevlance as of 2021 was reported to be 0.2 % overall, 0.3% among males and 0.2% among females.

Prevalence

Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 5,346 1A
2021 5,466 1B A
2024 5,536 1A
References:
  1. 1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2017 cited in 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. 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/
  2. 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-ury.pdf?sfvrsn=71082724_3&download=true. Accessed: 8 August 2025. 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/
Comments:
  1. Adults survey: Encuesta Continua de Hogares, 2021; National, ages 15+ 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/
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 0.2% 2A
2021 0.2% 2B A
References:
  1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2017 cited in 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. 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-ury.pdf?sfvrsn=71082724_3&download=true. Accessed: 8 August 2025.
Comments:
  1. Adults survey: Encuesta Continua de Hogares, 2021; National, ages 15+
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 0.2% 2A
2021 0.2% 2B A
References:
  1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2017 cited in 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. 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-ury.pdf?sfvrsn=71082724_3&download=true. Accessed: 8 August 2025.
Comments:
  1. Adults survey: Encuesta Continua de Hogares, 2021; National, ages 15+
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 0.3% 2A
2021 0.3% 2B A
References:
  1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2017 cited in 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. 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-ury.pdf?sfvrsn=71082724_3&download=true. Accessed: 8 August 2025.
Comments:
  1. Adults survey: Encuesta Continua de Hogares, 2021; National, ages 15+
References:
  1. 1. Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) 2017 cited in 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. 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/
  2. 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-ury.pdf?sfvrsn=71082724_3&download=true. Accessed: 8 August 2025.
Comments:
  1. Adults survey: Encuesta Continua de Hogares, 2021; National, ages 15+

Product promotion

References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Uruguay. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/uruguay/e-cigarettes?row=1219513. Accessed: 24 July 2025.

Regulation

Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Banned 1A
2024 Banned 1B
2025 Banned 1C A
References:
  1. Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/
  2. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.
  3. https://www.vitalstrategies.org/uruguay-reinstates-strong-tobacco-control-measures-banning-the-sale-of-heated-tobacco-products-and-restoring-plain-packaging/
Comments:
  1. Ministry of Public Health resolution reaffirms prohibition on importation and commercialization of ENDS and HTP; rejects petitions for a regulatory pathway.. In force
Comments:
  1. Ministry of Public Health resolution reaffirms prohibition on importation and commercialization of ENDS and HTP; rejects petitions for a regulatory pathway.. In force

Availability

References:
  1. Anti Smoking Global Index. Vaping Products. Available at: https://antismoking.global/world-map. Accessed: 22 July 2025.

Regulations and restrictions

References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction Uruguay. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/uruguay/e-cigarettes?row=1219513. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
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.