In 2022, 23.9% of the Swiss population smoked. This percentage has fallen since 1997 (33.2%) and is now much lower than in 2017 (27.1%). Compared with 2017, the percentage of daily smokers in particular has fallen ‒ from 19.1% to 16.1% of the population ‒ while the number of occasional smokers has remained the same (2017: 8.0%, 2022: 7.8%).
Smoking is more common among men (2022: 27,1%), than women (2022: 20.8%). Large differences in tobacco consumption are seen not only between the sexes but also according to socio-demographic characteristics. In 2022, 26.9% of people whose highest level of education completed was upper secondary level smoked, compared with 25.2% of those with no post-compulsory qualification. This was 5 to 7 percentage points more than for people with a tertiary-level qualification (20.0%). 28.2% of foreign nationals smoked, compared with 22.5% of Swiss nationals.
This indicator is part of the Monitoring System Addiction and NCD (MonAM) of the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH).
Tobacco consumption is a leading cause of numerous diseases, disabilities, and of early death.
Smoking harms almost every organ in the body, and is detrimental to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems in particular. Smoking is responsible for up to 90% of all lung cancer cases and for a variety of other cancers, chronic obstructive respiratory conditions and damage to the eyes, tissues in the mouth (periodontium), digestive tract, bones and reproductive organs, and can cause infertility. Additionally, smoking accelerates skin ageing, leading to premature wrinkles (FOPH, 2023).
The consequences of tobacco use extend far beyond the individual, as tobacco-related illnesses result in a significant burden for society as a whole.
This indicator was calculated on the basis of data from the Swiss Health Survey (SHS, n2022 ≈ 22 000) and is updated every five years.
It indicates the percentage of the population aged 15 and older living in a private household who currently smoke. It also shows the percentage of daily smokers, occasional smokers and non-smokers.
The survey asked participants whether they smoked (including heated tobacco products but excluding e-cigarettes), even if only occasionally. The smokers were then asked whether they were daily smokers. The second question has only been surveyed since 2007, which is why the second graph only includes figures from this year onwards.
In 2017, e-cigarettes were also included in the definition of smoking, but not in 2022. These changes do not affect overall prevalence rates, as all respondents who stated that they used e-cigarettes in 2017 also smoked other tobacco products (dual-use). The surveys prior to 2017 did not include any further information in the question "Do you smoke, even if only occasionally?".
An explanation of socio-demographic variables can be found in the document: Definition of the characteristics
Standardisation: Move the slider over the graphic to display the age and sex-standardised rates. Standardisation eliminates age- and gender-specific distortions in comparisons between different population groups (e.g. between cantons or educational levels) and over time. More information: Standardisation – explanation and calculation
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