Mapped: Europe’s Tobacco Use By Country

Tobacco Use Rates Across Europe

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Tobacco use continues to be a major health issue across Europe, with smoking being the most significant cause of premature death among European Union countries.

This map visualizes the share of European countries’ population aged 15+ that use tobacco products.

The data comes from the World Health Organization and reflects figures for 2021.

Which European Countries Use the Most Tobacco?

Below, we show the share of various European countries’ populations aged 15+ who use tobacco products.

Bulgaria and Serbia have the highest tobacco usage rates in Europe, with 40% of their populations using tobacco products.

Their neighbors, Croatia (37%) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (36%) also have high tobacco usage rates.

Eastern European countries typically have a higher prevalence of smokers than other parts of Europe due to a historical smoking culture, weaker tobacco control policies, and higher rates of economic hardship.

A 2021 pan-European study found that lower socio-economic status is a key factor influencing smoking habits in both men and women.

Among European countries, the United Kingdom and Norway have the lowest tobacco usage rates in Europe, with only 15% of their populations using tobacco.

Across Europe, an average of 26% of people use tobacco products.

Learn More on the Voronoi App

To learn more about smoking rates across the world, check out this graphic that visualizes the countries with the highest rates of tobacco use among their population aged 15 and older.