Tobacco and nicotine products

Between 2004 and 2021 daily smoking in Sweden decreased among the population aged 16–84 years. Six percent of both men and women smoked daily in 2021.

Among youths the proportion of school pupils who report that they smoke has declined both in school year 9 and in year 2 of upper secondary school. During 2021, 6 percent of boys and 11 percent of girls in school year 9 smoked, while the proportion was 16 percent for boys and 19 percent for girls in year 2 of upper secondary school.

Despite this positive development, smoking still contributes to health inequalities in Sweden as some groups in society smoke more than others. According to the National Board of Health and Welfare, tobacco smoking causes about 100 000 cases of smoking-related diseases and 12 000 deaths per year.

Daily snuff use among 16–84-year-old men was 20 percent in 2021, and six percent in 16-84 year-old women.

Our mission

The Public Health Agency of Sweden is responsible for:

  • building and conveying knowledge within the tobacco area to relevant stakeholders
  • promoting coordination of the work within the tobacco area at the national level, and for monitoring
  • contributing to enforcement of tobacco legislation through, among other things, supervision and supervision guidance
  • coordinating and providing materials to the Swedish government in preparation for recurrent reports on tobacco to the EU and WHO.

We are also involved in the implementation of EU's Tobacco Products Directive.

Moreover, the Public Health Agency of Sweden allocates state funds to non-profit organisations working with tobacco prevention in Sweden.