Eurostat: One in Six People in the EU Consume Tobacco Daily
New data shows a slight decline compared to 2022, but differences among member states remain dramatic.
New data shows a slight decline compared to 2022, but differences among member states remain dramatic.
Nearly one in six adults in the European Union reaches for a cigarette, e-cigarette, nicotine pouch, or heated tobacco product every day. According to data released by the European statistics agency Eurostat on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, the share of daily users of tobacco and related products in 2025 stood at 16.5 percent.
This marks a slight decrease from 2022, when 17.5 percent of the EU population aged 16 and over reported the same habit. While the trend points to a gradual reduction, the data also reveals a still alarmingly high level of nicotine addiction across the continent, with pronounced differences between genders, age groups, and member states.
When comparing individual countries, the differences are more than twofold. The highest rate of daily consumption was recorded in Bulgaria, where as many as 26.3 percent of the population uses tobacco products daily. At the opposite end is the Netherlands, with a share of 9.9 percent, making it the only country where the rate has fallen below ten percent.
The data also confirms a gender gap in tobacco consumption. Among men, 20.8 percent consumed tobacco or related products daily in 2025, while among women, that percentage was 12.6 percent. Compared to 2022, there has been a decline in both groups-then, daily use was reported by 22.2 percent of men and 13.1 percent of women.
According to the survey, the largest share of daily users is found among individuals aged 35 to 49. In this group, the rate reached 21.3 percent, significantly above the EU average and indicating that middle age is particularly vulnerable to nicotine addiction.
Eurostat's data, also reported by the Anadolu agency, covered a wide range of products, from traditional cigarettes to newer forms such as e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, providing a comprehensive picture of the prevalence of this habit across the European Union.
