Tobacco Use and Trends
- In 2022, an estimated 802.7 thousand people (401.8 thousand males and 400.8 thousand females) aged 15 years and older were tobacco product users in Denmark. This positions the country as the 96th globally and the 33rd 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, 16% of respondents (15% male and 16% female) aged 18 years and over were currently smoking tobacco products (cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos or pipe). Tobacco smoke was more prevalent in the 40-54 age group (19%) followed by the 25-39 age group with 16%. The older 55 years and over age group with 15%. Among these age groups, the lowest prevalence of smoking was in the youngest 15-24 age group with 10%.
Among those tobacco smokers, 67% were daily cigarette and 10% were daily hand-rolled cigarettes smokers.
In 2019, 22% of youths (22% boys and 23% girls) aged 15-16 years were current cigarette smokers. In the same year, 9.9% of youths (9.6% boys and 10.1% girls) were daily cigarette smokers.
Demand for cigarettes per capita reduced by 28% in Denmark from 67 packs in 2002 to 48 packs in 2021. Same trajectory is observed with the demand for per capita fine-cut tobacco (e.g. roll your own RYO) with a notable reduction of 73% from 8.4 packs of 20gr weight in 2002 to 2.3 packs of 20gr weight in 2021 (Figure 1)
Figure 1 Cigarette and Fine Cut Tobacco Consumption in Denmark 2002-2021
Source: European Commission, Releases for consumption of cigarettes and fine cut tobacco (2002-2022)
Nicotine Alternatives
In 2020, 17% of respondents (22% male and 12% female) have used or at least tried e-cigarettes.
The “at least tried out” category, the prevalent was the highest (24%) among the youngest 15-24 age group and the 25-39 age group, followed by the 40-54 age group with 18% and the oldest 55 years and over age group with 10%.
3% adults were current e-cigarette users.
In 2020, 6% of respondents (10% male and 3% female) have used or at least tried heated tobacco products (HTPs).
The “at least tried out” category, the prevalent was the highest (20%) in the youngest 15-24 age group. Notably lower rates of 5% were recorded for the 25-39 and 40-54 age groups. The lowest rate, 2% was identified in the oldest age group of 55 years and over.
In 2020, 66% of respondents either quit or attempted to quit without assistance.
Approximately 20% utilized Nicotine replacement products (NRTs), 6% sought medical support, while a notable 11% utilized e-cigarettes. About 1% of smokers opted for HTPs and 1% for oral, chewing, nasal tobacco products in their quitting journey.
Health and Economic Burden From Tobacco Use
In 2021, it was estimated that tobacco was the 1st highest risk factor driving the most deaths and disability combined in Denmark.
Tobacco was responsible for an estimated 9.4 thousand deaths, which is about 34.1% of total deaths.
Of tobacco-related deaths, 9.1 thousand or 96.9% were due to smoking, and 465 or 5.0% were due to secondhand smoke.
In 2021, the top 10 causes of the most deaths in Denmark included Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) ranking 1st, and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) ranking 2nd, Lung Cancer ranking 3rd, and Stroke ranking 4th.
Tobacco was responsible for an estimated 1.0 thousand or 21.5% of all IHD deaths, 505.5 or 14.6% of all Stroke deaths, 2.9 thousand or 85.6% of all Lung Cancer deaths, and 2.3 thousand or 75.8% of all COPD deaths.
In 2021, tobacco use caused an estimated loss of 210.8 thousand disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), which was about 31.5% of total DALYs. Tobacco accounts for 20.7 thousand DALYs for IHD, 10.8 thousand DALYs for Stroke, 59.0 thousand DALYs for Lung Cancer, and 41.9 thousand DALYs for COPD.
Regulatory Environment and Economics
Public Health Commitment
Denmark ratified the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) in 2004.
Denmark adopted graphical health warnings (GHWs) on combustible cigarettes (CCs) in 2012, covering 65% of the front and 65% of the back of the packages. In addition, plain packaging (PP) for CCs was implemented in 2022.
Diverse Tobacco Market
HTPs and e-cigarettes with and without nicotine are available in Denmark. HTPs are classified as “new category of tobacco product which are smoke free”. E-cigs and HTPs are subject to the same regulations as CCs. Specifically:
Denmark enforces Plain Packaging regulations on both e-cigarettes and HTPs.
Flavor restrictions are in place, allowing only menthol and tobacco flavors for e-cigarettes.
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, covering 30% of both inner and outer surface packaging, are mandatory for both e-cigarettes.
Taxation Policy
In 2022, total tax rate on retail prices of a pack of cigarette was 81.5%.
HTPs are subject to a specific excise tax of DKK1,500/kg. Denmark is the only EU country that imposes tiered excise tax on e-cigarettes based on nicotine content with up to 12mg/ml subject to DKK 1.5/ml and higher than 12mg/ml at DKK 2.5/ml.
Denmark applies a differential excise tax policy between CCs and HTPs. The excise value for HTPs is DKK 9.16/pack with its excise share (19.90%) of the retail price DKK 46.00/pack, while the excise value for CCs is DKK 39.31/pack with its share (65.51%) of the retail price DKK 60.00/pack.
Smoking and Advertising Bans3
- Weak smoking bans with complete level of compliance, and moderate advertising bans with complete level of compliance were enforced in Denmark in 2022.
Age Restrictions
- Tobacco products and e-cigs (with or without nicotine content) cannot be sold to individuals younger than 18 years of age.
Illicit Cigarette Trade
- Estimated figures indicate that illicit cigarette trade has been consistently remained less than 5% between 2008 and 2022, except in 2021 with 7.1%. In 2022, 3.4% of the market was illicit cigarettes. (Euromonitor [accessed November 2023])
- In 2021, 0.4 billion counterfeit & contraband (C&C) cigarettes were consumed in Denmark. The market share of C&C was 6.5% of the total cigarette market, costing the government an estimated EUR 114 million total tax revenue
Tobacco Production and Diversification
- Detailed data is not readily available from the Food and Agriculture Organization for Denmark. (FAOSTAT [accessed January 2024])