Sweden Achieves Historic Smoke-Free Status with Daily Smoking Below 5%

Sweden has reached a historic milestone by achieving a smoke-free status, defined as having fewer than 5% of the population smoking daily, a political goal set for 2025. According to new figures from the Centralförbundet för alkohol- och narkotikaupplysning (CAN), daily smoking rates have dramatically decreased from 16% in 2003 to just 4.8% in 2025. This achievement confirms Sweden as one of the leading countries in tobacco control.

Mats Ramstedt of CAN highlighted that although daily smoking has declined sharply, occasional smoking remains relatively stable. The decline is largely credited to comprehensive preventive measures, including higher tobacco taxes making smoking more expensive and expanded smoke-free legislation banning smoking in restaurants and outdoor seating areas since 2019.

At the same time, use of snus—a smokeless tobacco product—has increased, particularly among young people and women. While the tobacco industry points to snus as a key factor in reducing cigarette smoking, Ramstedt stressed that smoking rates began to decline well before the rise in snus use, indicating that preventive policies played the primary role. He emphasized the need for further research to clarify the relationship between snus and smoking trends.

Despite these public health successes, some smokers like Elisabeth Thorin from Uddevalla express a personal choice to continue smoking. Thorin shared her experience of multiple quit attempts but now states, "It’s my life, I will smoke as long as I want," reflecting varied individual perspectives amid the overall national decline in smoking.

Sweden's achievement is described as an “incredible development,” showcasing effective public health strategies that might serve as a model for other countries aiming to reduce smoking prevalence. The ongoing challenge remains to sustain these gains and understand emerging tobacco use patterns to maintain smoke-free momentum beyond 2025.