Top Stories from Ukraine
20.4% of the adult population are current smokers
There are approximately 6.6 million current smokers in Ukraine
35.7% of men are current smokers but only 7.6% of women
Country profile
Data sourced:
2025.
Page updated:
2026-08-14
Smoking in Ukraine
There has been a downwards trend in current smoking prevalence in the general population in Ukraine. Smoking prevalence was 34% overall in 2000 and declined to 28% in 2015, with a further drop to 24% projected by 2025. The prevalence for men remains high, but has decreased from 60% in 2000 to 48% in 2015, with a further decrease to 42% projected by 2025. Women’s prevalence was much lower, at 13% in 2000, decreasing to 11% in 2015, and is projected to decrease to around 9% 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 are not age standardised, and 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.
74,279
Deaths
74,279 annual deaths in Ukraine are associated with tobacco smoking.
0.2 million €
Market size of NRT.
NRT represent an estimated market size of 0.2 million €.
Nicotine Vaping Devices
in Ukraine
E-cigarettes and vaping are legally allowed in Ukraine, including their sale and use. Vaping products can be purchased through online channels but not from vending machines. Regulations impose some restrictions on e-cigarettes and vaping, including a requirement for health warnings on the packaging of these products and restrictions on their use in public places. The minimum legal age for their purchase is 18 years. Manufacturers are required to notify authorities of the introduction of new vaping products into the market and use only authorised flavours. The maximum allowable nicotine concentration is 20 mg/ml.
Ukraine had an estimated 1.9 million vapers in 2024, representing an adult current vaping prevalence of 5.3%. This prevalence was 3.9% among females and 7% among males in 2024.
Heated Tobacco Products
in Ukraine
In Ukraine, Heated Tobacco Products (HTPs) are regulated as tobacco products and are permitted for sale and use. They can be legally sold, including through online sales, although sales via vending machines are prohibited. Health claims are not permitted, health warnings on product packaging are mandatory, flavour restrictions are in place, and their use is restricted in public places. HTPs are taxed at a rate of 1,456.3 UAH per 1,000 sticks.
Statistics show that the estimated number of current HTP users in Ukraine was approximately 1.1 million people in 2023, representing an adult current-use prevalence of 3%.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
in Ukraine
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is legally allowed in Ukraine, including the sale and use of its products without a prescription. NRT products are available in pharmacies. They are not included on the country’s essential drugs list, and the government does not provide financial support for NRT. The market size of NRT products in Ukraine was 0.2 Million € in 2019.
Snus
in Ukraine
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 Ukraine
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.