Danish smoking habits 2022

The report is in Danish (9 February 2023, 100 pages), but an english summary is available below.

Danskernes Rygevaner 2022 (report in Danish)

English summary

This report outlines the status of the Danish smoking habits in 2022. The results are based on a survey from a self-reported questionnaire answered by 11.865 Danish citizens aged 15-79 years. The survey is conducted in a collaboration between the Danish Health Authority (Sundhedsstyrelsen), the Danish Cancer Society (Kræftens Bekæmpelse), the Danish Heart Foundation (Hjerteforeningen), and the Danish Lung Association (Lungeforeningen). Numbers are presented for the whole respondent group, as well as divided according to gender, age group or educational status. Furthermore, the results are compared to numbers from the Danish Smoking Habits 2020.

The Danish Smoking Habits 2022 shows that 23 % percent of the population use at least one tobacco or nicotine containing product. That number corresponds to the use in 2020. Among respondents aged 15-29 years an increase in the use of all tobacco and nicotine containing products has occurred from 2020 to 2022.

Tobacco smoking

Overall, the proportion of respondents who report smoking cigarettes daily or occasionally are 19 %. The proportion of respondents smoking daily is 13 % and occasionally 6 %. There is no change in smoking prevalence compared to the corresponding results from 2020. Furthermore, 29 % stated that they previously had been smoking and 53 % that they never had smoked. Daily smoking is more prevalent among men (15 %) compared to women (11 %). The same pattern applies for those who smoke occasionally (7 % men and 5 % women). Daily smoking is most prevalent among respondents with shorter educational status (22 %) compared to medium length education (15 %) og long education (8 %). Most respondents, who smoke tobacco, began smoking regularly before the age of 18 years (70 %).

Wish to stop smoking

The report shows that 66 % of those who smoke daily or occasionally wish to stop smoking. This is a small decrease compared to 2020 (68 %). The decrease can primarily be attributed to the fact that fewer of those who smoke occasionally wants to stop smoking in 2022 (52% in 2020 to 47% in 2022). Among people who smoke daily 75% want to stop smoking.

Smoking cessation attempts

Among people who smoke daily, 77 % have ever attempted to stop smoking, and 40 % of those who smoke occasionally have ever attempted smoking cessation. The proportion who has ever attempted smoking cessation has increased in the period from 2020 to 2022 among people who smoke daily (74 % in 2020), while the proportion is unchanged among those who smoke occasionally.

Over half (56 %) of respondents who smoke daily or occasionally, or previously have been smoking, have not received any help during the most recent smoking cessation attempt. This is a decrease from corresponding results in 2020 (64 %). When asked which smoking cessation aids the respondents used during the last smoking cessation, the most prevalent aids were nicotine products e.g., nicotine chewing gum or patches (18 %), e-cigarettes (13 %) and support from family or friends (11 %). Various factors may contribute to a smoking cessation attempt. "Thoughts about health" is the most common factor reported in the survey (64 %). This has increased since 2020 (59 %). In addition, "The desire not to be addicted" (36 %) and "Economy" (24 %) are frequently contributing factors used for smoking cessation attempts.

About one fourth (26 %) of the respondents who smoke daily, and have attempted to stop smoking, experienced encouragement to smoking cessation from the doctor, a hospital (17 %), the dentist (15 %), the workplace (11 %), and in their municipality (7 %). Overall, the proportion of people reporting being encouraged to stop smoking by various groups decreased from 2020 to 2022, e.g., encouragement from doctor (35 % in 2020 to 26 % in 2022).

E-cigarettes

In total, 5 % of respondents use e-cigarettes daily or occasionally. In 2020, it was 3 %. Furthermore, the proportion of respondents never using e-cigarettes have declined from 94 % in 2020 to 91 % in 2022. There are no differences in e-cigarette use according to gender, but according to age group the pattern of use differs. Thus, among respondents between 15 and 29 years of age 7 % use e-cigarettes compared to 5 % among those between 30 to 59 years and 2 % among respondents over 60 years of age. The most prevalent tastes in e-cigarettes are fruit (53 %), mint (30 %), tobacco (26 %) and candy (26 %). Overall, use of e-cigarettes with taste of candy or fruit has increased since 2020. The most reported reasons for using e-cigarettes include a “Wish to stop or reduce the amount of tobacco smoking” and “Because I like the taste”.

Smokeless nicotine containing products

Overall, 4 % of the respondents use smokeless nicotine containing products. This corresponds to the use in 2020 (3 %). In 2022, using smokeless nicotine containing products is more prevalent among men (6 %) than women (3 %). The use is highest among respondents aged 15 to 29 years, where 14 % use these products compared to 2 % and 1 %, respectively, among those aged 30 to 59 years and those over 60 years of age.

Among those who smoke tobacco, use e-cigarettes or smokeless nicotine containing products, the experience of feeling highly addicted to nicotine has slightly increased; from 31 % in 2020 to 33 % in 2022. So has the feeling of being a little addicted to nicotine (36 % in 2020 to 39 % in 2022).

Indoor nicotine consumption

In total, 14 % report tobacco smoking inside in their home. This is more frequently reported among men than women, among the older age groups compared to the youngest age group, and among respondents with primary school as the highest completed educational level. Those respondents who have children living at home report less tobacco smoking inside in their home.

Outdoor tobacco exposure

Regarding smoking at the workplace, there has been an increase in workplaces with no smoking during work hours (that is no smoking anywhere during the time at work) from 17 % in 2020 to 21 % in 2022. Furthermore, fewer respondents in 2022 indicate that smoking is prohibited both indoor and outdoor at the workplace compared to 2020 (19% in 2020 to 16% in 2022).

Nicotine exposure among children

A higher proportion of respondents without children living at home report daily cigarette smoking at home (10%) compared to those with children living at home (3%). The proportions are unchanged from 2020 to 2022. However, no difference appears in the use of e-cigarettes between respondents with children living at home and those without children living at home