Recent data from Sweden's public health agency reveal that only 4.5 percent of Swedish-born adults still smoke, placing the country below the internationally recognized "smoke-free"

benchmark of 5 percent. In contrast, Europe’s average smoking rate stands at 24 percent, making Sweden’s smoking rate one-fifth of the continental average.

Sweden’s success in lowering smoking rates is attributed to its progressive policy on tobacco harm reduction, favoring safer alternatives over prohibition. Delon Human, head of Smoke Free Sweden, stated, "This accomplishment is a significant milestone in global public health, demonstrating the impact of Sweden's innovative approach to tobacco control."

In the 1960s, nearly half of Swedish men smoked, but by promoting alternatives like snus, oral nicotine pouches, and e-cigarettes, Sweden has created a path toward a smoke-free society while prioritizing public health. Human added, "Sweden’s approach should serve as a beacon for other countries, showing that pragmatic policies can achieve exceptional public health outcomes."

Statistics also show that 5.3 percent of all adults in Sweden, including immigrants, currently smoke, while European immigrants in Sweden are three times less likely to smoke than if they had remained in their home countries. Physician and former Swedish Medical Association leader Anders Milton explained that Sweden's success lies in its harm reduction focus rather than strict prohibition. "Sweden offers a wide array of safer nicotine products, available legally and supported by advertising, raising awareness and encouraging healthier choices," Milton said.

Sweden’s government supports this approach through a proportional excise tax on nicotine products, making them more affordable than cigarettes. Combined with educational campaigns, this tax policy empowers Swedes to make healthier choices and contributes to the country’s leadership in tobacco harm reduction.

As a result, Sweden has the EU's lowest rates of tobacco-related diseases and a 41 percent lower incidence of cancer than other European countries. Human expressed hope that other nations could adopt similar measures, warning that prohibitive policies elsewhere limit access to safer alternatives, hindering global progress toward tobacco harm reduction and a smoke-free future. Photo by Tomasz Sienicki, Wikimedia commons.