French Tobacco Sales Plummet by 11.5% in 2024, Reaching a "Record Low" Smoking Rate
French Tobacco Sales Plummet, while Smoking Rates Decline Continuously
France witnessed a significant decrease of over 11% in tobacco sales last year, as smoking rates continue to drop, according to the French Observatory of Drugs and Addictive Behaviors (OFDT) in its annual report published on May 30. The decline is a continuation of a several-year trend, averaging 7% between 2017 and 2024, and is observable throughout the country.
The sales drop, amounting to 32,846 tonnes of tobacco sold by retailers in mainland France in 2024, is accompanied by a persistent decrease in smoking. The OFDT describes this decrease as at a "historically low level," with less than a quarter of those aged 18-75 reporting daily smoking, representing the lowest prevalence since 2000.
Among young people aged 17, the decrease in daily smoking is even more pronounced, with a 15.9-point reduction compared to 2011. At the same time, there has been a significant rise in vaping, particularly among this age group, with 6% of 17-year-olds vaping daily in 2022 - double the rate from 2014.
Despite this ongoing decline, the tobacco industry's total turnover reached €19.3 billion in 2024, with an average annual growth of 0.9% since 2017 due primarily to price increases. Between 2017 and 2024, the average price of rolling tobacco nearly doubled, from €11.47 to €20.60, while the price of cigarettes rose from €7.05 to €10.92.
Several factors have contributed to the decline in French smoking rates, including increased taxation on tobacco products, the implementation of plain packaging and health warnings, bans on smoking in public places, national anti-smoking campaigns, expanded access to smoking cessation programs, shifting social norms, health education, and alignment with national health plans. These measures have demonstrated the effectiveness of coordinated policy, public health interventions, and cultural change in addressing tobacco use in France.
References:[2] Integration with Broader Health Policies (accessed June 12, 2025).
- The decline in French smoking rates has prompted discussions on mental health and wellness, where researchers are investigating the impact of smoking cessation on overall health and well-being.
- Amidst the continuing drop in tobacco sales, policy-and-legislation experts are analyzing the effectiveness of existing policies and considering further measures, such as greater taxation on electronic cigarettes, to promote health-and-wellness and reduce tobacco consumption further.
- In light of the ongoing changes in the tobacco market and increasing focus on mental-health and general-news issues, politics in France has become more closely linked with public health concerns, especially reforms that address policy-and-legislation around tobacco sales, vaping, and health-awareness programs.
