Sweden has officially become “smoke-free” after the proportion of daily smokers fell below 5% for the first time, according to Tobacco Journal .

The new national data shows daily smoking rates dropped from 16% in 2003 to 4.8% this year, achieving Sweden’s long-standing political target of becoming smoke-free by 2025.

Researcher Mats Ramstedt said the decline was mainly driven by stricter tobacco control measures, including higher taxes, reduced availability of cigarettes, expanded smoke-free areas and tighter advertising restrictions. The real price of cigarettes has risen by 45 per cent since 2003, according to the report.

At the same time, the use of snus and nicotine pouches has increased, especially among young people and women. Ramstedt said marketing and accessibility for these products have moved “in the opposite direction” to cigarettes, adding that further research is needed to determine how much snus contributed to the decline in smoking.