The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) has confirmed a continuing shift in German nicotine consumption for 2025, driven by an 18.2% spike in the sales of taxed tobacco substitutes like e-cigarette liquids. This rapid growth in the vaping sector occurs against the backdrop of a largely stagnant traditional tobacco market.
While traditional cigarette sales saw a microscopic 0.2% increase to 66.4 billion sticks in 2025, the long-term trend remains sharply downward. Compared to 1991, when 146.5 billion cigarettes were taxed, the volume has dropped by more than 50%. Per capita consumption has plummeted from 1,831 cigarettes in 1991 to just 795 in 2025.
| Product Category | 2025 Taxed Volume | Year-over-Year Change |
|---|---|---|
| Tobacco Substitutes (Liquids) | 1.5 million liters | +18.2% |
| Cigarettes | 66.4 billion pieces | +0.2% |
| Fine-Cut Tobacco | 24,864 tons | -1.2% |
| Cigars & Cigarillos | 2.1 billion pieces | -6.6% |
| Waterpipe Tobacco | 1,162 tons | -8.8% |
Conversely, the alternative nicotine market is expanding rapidly. Destatis notes that long-term comparisons for tobacco substitutes are unavailable, as vape liquids were only subjected to a dedicated tobacco tax starting in July 2022.
Other traditional categories largely faced declines. Waterpipe tobacco dropped 8.8% to 1,162 tons, despite the July 2024 repeal of a strict 25-gram packaging limit. Classic pipe tobacco was the only other category to see growth, rising 2.9% to 323 tons.
The current Tobacco Tax Act, which outlines progressive, separate tax increases for these various product categories, is scheduled to regulate these tariffs until 2027.
- Read more: German Cigarette Sales Hit Historic Low Amid 2022 Tax Hikes
- Press release: 0,2 % mehr versteuerte Zigaretten im Jahr 2025
