Tobacco Use and Trends
- In 2022, an estimated 1.7 million people (896.5 thousand males and 811.6 thousand females) aged 15 years and older were tobacco product users in Austria. This positions the country as the 69th globally and the 24th in the WHO European Region in terms of number of tobacco users.1,2
For comparison, according to the Attitudes of Europeans Towards Tobacco and Electronic Cigarettes survey in 2020, 25% of respondents (31% males and 21% females) were currently smoking tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos or pipe).
Tobacco smoking was more prevalent among 40-54 age group (42%), followed by 15-24 and 25-39 age group with 27% respectively.
Among those tobacco smokers, 79% were daily cigarette and 8% were daily hand-rolled cigarettes smokers.
In 2020, 3.4% of people (5.1% males and 1.7% females) aged 15 years and over were current smokeless tobacco users.
In 2019, 25% of youths (24% boys and 26% girls) aged 14-17 years were current cigarette smokers.
Demand for cigarettes reduced by 29% from 95 packs per capita in 2002 to 68 packs per capita in 2021 while the demand for fine-cut tobacco (e.g., roll your own [RYO]) per capita increased by 178% from 1.6 packs of 20gr weight in 2002 to 4.3 packs of 20gr weight in 2021 (Figure 1).
Nicotine Alternatives
In 2020, 18% of respondents (21% males and 15% females) have used or at least tried e-cigarettes.
The “at least tried out” category was more prevalent among 15-24 age group, with a usage rate of 28%. Following this, the 25-39 and 40-54 age groups also exhibited notable usage rate of 21%.
In 2020, 12% of respondents (16% males and 9% females) have used or at least tried heated tobacco products (HTPs).
The “at least tried out” category was more prevalent among 15-24 age group, with a usage rate of 20%, followed by 40-54 age group (15%), and 25-39 age group (13%).
Current HTPs use prevalence was 2%.
In 2020, 52% of respondents said they either quit or attempted to quit without assistance.
Approximately 24% utilized Nicotine replacement products (NRTs), 16% sought medical support, 11% utilized e-cigarettes, a smaller percentage 4% opted for HTPs, while another 4% used oral, chewing, nasal tobacco products in their quitting journey.
In 2019, 13% of youths (17% boys and 9% girls) aged 14-17 years were current e-cigarette users. Daily e-cigarette use was reported as 2% for both sexes
Health and Economic Burden From Tobacco Use
In 2021, it was estimated that tobacco was the 2nd highest risk factor driving the most death and disability combined in Austria.
Tobacco was responsible for an estimated 8.5 thousand deaths, which is about 20.1% of total deaths.
Of tobacco-related deaths, 7.9 thousand or 93.0% were due to smoking, and 845.6 or 10.0% were due to secondhand smoke.
In 2021, the top 10 causes of the most deaths in Austria included Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) ranking 1st, Stroke ranking 4th, Lung Cancer ranking 5th and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) ranking 7th.
Tobacco was responsible for an estimated 2.1 thousand or 15.3% of all IHD deaths, 404.5 or 10.4% of all Stroke deaths, 2.6 thousand or 83.1% of all Lung Cancer deaths, and 1.2 thousand or 63.2% of all COPD deaths.
In 2021, tobacco use caused an estimated loss of 230.5 thousand disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), which was about 23.2% of total DALYs. Tobacco accounts for 43.8 thousand DALYs for IHD, 12.4 thousand DALYs for Stroke, 59.9 thousand DALYs for Lung Cancer, and 29.2 thousand DALYs for COPD.
Regulatory Environment and Economics
Public Health Commitment
Austria ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2005 and WHO Illicit Trade Protocol in 2014.
Austria adopted graphical health warnings (GHWs) on combustible cigarettes (CCs) in 2016, covering 65% of the front and 65% of the back of the packages.
Diverse Tobacco Market
HTPs are legally available in Austria and regulated as novel tobacco products along with e-cigarettes. Key points include:
Flavor ban on HTPs entered into force in 2023.
Product restrictions for e-cigarettes include a maximum nicotine concentration to 20mg/ml, the tank capacity not exceeding 2ml, and refill containers limited to a maximum 10ml.
Text health warnings cover 30% of both surfaces for HTPs and e-cigarettes irrespective of nicotine content.
Taxation Policy
In 2022, total tax rate on retail prices of a pack of cigarette was 74.0%.
HTPs are defined in a new tax code and subject to a specific rate EUR 164/kg of tobacco in a pack. E-cigarettes are not subject to excise tax as of 2023.
Austria employs a differential excise tax policy between HTPs and CCs. The excise tax value for HTPs is EUR 1.00/pack, with excise tax share (19.24%) on retail price of EUR 5.20/pack. The excise tax value for CCs is EUR 3.48/pack with the excise tax share (58.00%) on retail price (EUR 6.00) in 2023.
Smoking and Advertising Bans3
- Minimal smoking bans with complete level of compliance, moderate advertising bans with complete level of compliance were enforced in Austria in 2022.
Age Restrictions
- Tobacco and e-cigarettes cannot be sold to individuals younger than 18 years of age.
Illicit Cigarette Trade
- Estimates from a recent study reveals that in 2021, 0.5 billion counterfeit and contraband (C&C) cigarette were consumed in Austria, where C&Cs share in total cigarettes consumption was 3.9%. Illicit trade cost government EUR 101 million from C&Cs in 2021.
Tobacco Production and Diversification
In 2022, Australia produced about 2.5 thousand tons of unmanufactured tobacco. This positioned Australia as the 66th largest tobacco producer in the world.
When compared to 2010, when Australia produced about 3.4 thousand tons of unmanufactured tobacco, there was a 26.2% decrease by 2022.
In 2022, Australia utilized approximately 892 hectares of land for tobacco cultivation, reflecting a 28.8% decrease compared 2010. (FAOSTAT [accessed January 2024])