1.1. Contact organisation
[4D0] European Commission (including Eurostat)
1.2. Contact organisation unit
[4D1_E2] Eurostat - Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
e-mail contact : ESTAT-SDG-MONITORING@ec.europa.eu.
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
26 May 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
26 May 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
24 March 2026
The indicator is part of the EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 3 on good health and well-being which is embedded in the European Commission’s 2024-2029 Priorities under 'Supporting people, strenghtening our societes and our social model'.
SDG 3 aims to ensure health and promote well-being for all at all ages by improving reproductive, maternal and child health; ending the epidemics of major communicable diseases; and reducing non-communicable and mental diseases. SDG 3 also calls for reducing behavioural and environmental health risk factors.
The indicator can be considered as similar to global SDG indicator 3.a.1 "Age-standardized prevalence of current tobacco use among persons aged 15 years and older".
Several EU Directives aim to protect citizens from the hazardous effects of smoking, including the Tobacco Products Directive, the Tobacco Advertising Directive and the Tobacco Taxation Directive.
4.1. Data description
This indicator measures the percentage of the population aged 15 years and over who report they currently smoke boxed cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos or a pipe. It does not include the use of other tobacco and related products such as electronic cigarettes and snuff. The data are collected through a Eurobarometer survey and are based on self-reported use during face-to-face interviews in people’s homes.
4.2. Unit of measure
% of population aged 15 or over
4.3. Reference Period
Calendar year.
4.4. Accuracy - overall
Indicator from non-ESS source.
4.5. Source data
4.5.1. Source data - Organisation
DG SANTE (Eurobarometer)
4.5.2. Source data - Comment
Data source: Eurobarometer Survey
Data provider: European Commission’s Directorate-General Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE)
5.1. Frequency of dissemination
5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade
Every 3+ years5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment
Indicator is updated every 3 years.
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
T+1 year5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment
New data points are disseminated within one year after the reference year.
6.1. Reference area
6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade
All EU MS6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
Data are presented for all EU Member States.
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
All EU MS6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment
Data are comparable between all EU Member States.
6.3. Coverage - Time
6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade
> 10 years6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment
Data points for 2006, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2023.
6.4. Comparability - over time
6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade
> 4 data points6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment
Length of comparable time series without methodological breaks is longer than 4 data points.
7.1. Dissemination format - Publications
Analysis of indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards SDGs in the EU context).
7.2. Dissemination format - online database
See table sdg_03_30
7.3. Dissemination format - other
Eurostat dedicated section on SDGs: Eurostat overview.
Copyrights: Eurostat Copyright/Licence Policy is applicable.
