The percentage of adult smokers in Greece rose to 28% of the population in 2023, which in absolute numbers corresponds to approximately 2,200,000 people, the majority of whom are men aged 35-54. A percentage of 22.4% are regular smokers and 5.6% occasional smokers.
According to a survey conducted for the third consecutive year by the Marc company in 2023 on behalf of Papastratos with the participation of more than 1,200 respondents, from all over Greece, the number of smokers in our country has remained stable over the last year. In the meantime, reasons of health, fitness, but also the social environment and the cost of the product are now factors that significantly determine the habit of smoking.
Each smoker consumed on a daily basis in 2023 an average of 15 cigarettes. More specifically, 45.3% stated that they smoke up to 10 cigarettes per day, 40.6% from 11 to 20 cigarettes, while 14% smoke more than 20 cigarettes per day.
Of these, 23.7% reported that they smoked less compared to a year ago.
Those who use alternative nicotine products, either exclusively or in combination with cigarettes, rose to 21.3% in 2023 from 5.5% in 2021.
The lack of smell and potentially reduced health risk emerge as the main reasons for switching to alternative types of smoking (50.5% and 49% respectively).
Moreover, the majority of the participants in the survey said that the degree of harmfulness of a tobacco product should be taken into account when taxing it.
