Sweden is on the brink of becoming Europe’s first smoke-free country, as its national smoking rate continues to fall toward the World Health Organization’s benchmark

of less than 5%, according to a report by ‘Gulf News’.

Data from last year show daily smoking among adults dropped to 5.2%, down sharply from 15% in 2005. The dramatic decline has been attributed to decades of sustained public health campaigns and a widespread shift toward lower-risk nicotine alternatives, including snus and tobacco-free nicotine pouches.

Today, nearly 18% of Sweden’s population uses snus or similar products. While these alternatives are not risk-free, health experts agree they pose significantly fewer dangers than combustible cigarettes. The public health impact has been significant: over the past decade, daily smoking rates have fallen by 55%, tobacco-related deaths among men have dropped by 38%, and lung cancer cases have declined by 41%.

Public health specialists point to Sweden’s combination of regulation, consistent health messaging and access to safer alternatives—supported by high levels of public trust—as a model other countries could follow in the global effort to reduce smoking. Photo by Challiyil Eswaramangalath Vipin from Chalakudy, India, Wikimedia commons.