Sweden Makes History as the World’s First Smoke-Free Nation

• Sweden becomes smoke-free on 25 October 2025, the first in Europe.
• ‘Smoke-free’ means that fewer than 5% of the population are daily smokers.
• Sweden’s success is due to high cigarettes taxes and accessible nicotine alternatives.
• The UK is projected to reach smoke-free status around 2033.
• Sweden’s model could save hundreds of thousands of lives across the EU.

On Saturday, October 25, Sweden makes history. On this day, Sweden becomes the first country in Europe, and one of the very first in the world, to be considered smoke-free.

‘Smoke-free’ status is a World Health Organisation definition. It means that a country has less than 5% of the population being daily smokers.

Two research projects by Swedish economist David Sundén, "Fighting smoking with alternative nicotine products" and “The race towards a smoke-free society”, provide the basis for this celebration of Sweden’s smoke-free status.

We interviewed David to find out more.

David says:

“While it is of course very difficult to pinpoint an exact date, based on my calculations and existing public health statistics, it is precisely on 25^th October 2025 that Sweden becomes smoke-free according to the WHO definition.”

“It doesn’t mean that smoking disappears completely. The WHO and the EU share the same definition: fewer than 5% of the population smokes daily. That’s the level and definition at which smoking is no longer considered a widespread societal problem.” 

“Two things. First, Sweden has had relatively high taxes on cigarettes for a long time. That makes smoking more expensive and so less attractive for people.

However, just as important is the availability of alternatives: snus and, later, nicotine pouches have been available to nicotine users. People haven’t been forced to choose between either quitting altogether or continuing to smoke—they’ve had a third, less harmful alternative.

It’s this combination that has proven to be successful and makes Sweden a leader in terms of harm reduction.”

“The US has a smoking rate of 10.8%, and the UK is almost at 11.9%. Both these countries have ambitions to become smoke-free in the 2030s. For the UK, its objective is to become smoke-free by 2030.

My calculations indicate that they are unlikely to meet this target. It could be 2033 or even later by the time the UK gets smoking rates down to the level Sweden has achieved in 2025. Sweden is nearly eight years ahead of the UK on this issue.” 

"No, the data indicate that England will be first to reach smoke-free status in 2032. This will be followed by Wales in 2033 and Scotland in 2034. Northern Ireland will be the last nation to become smoke-free, and that may not happen until 2037."

“The differences across Europe are very significant. In Bulgaria, 660 men per 100,000 inhabitants die from smoking.

In Sweden, the number is 90. That’s by far the lowest in the entire EU. This shows that our approach not only reduces the number of smokers—it also saves lives.” 

In the UK, for example, there are 38,232 smoking-related deaths amongst males aged 35+. This is a demographic in Sweden that has traditionally used snus rather than smoking cigarettes.

If the UK implemented policies to encourage men aged 35+ to switch to alternatives, I estimate it could save 20,788 lives annually."

“That bans and finger-pointing are not decisive. You have to combine higher cigarette prices with offering alternatives. For example, my calculations indicate that if the entire EU had followed Sweden’s model, 217,000 lives could be saved each year.”

“It feels good to be able to set a date for when Sweden becomes the first in the world to reach this goal. This is a public health success and proof that harm reduction works better than just bans. Sweden is showing the way.” 

View the Haypp Non-Smoking League Table for more information.