[AP]
Greek women had the highest smoking rate in the European Union in 2023, according to a Eurostat report released Wednesday. The data show that 32% of Greek women smoked, well above the EU average of 21%.
Greek men ranked fifth among EU male smokers at 40%, behind Bulgaria and Latvia, where nearly half of men smoke. Bulgaria topped overall smoking rates with 37% of the population aged 15 and older, followed by Greece at 36%.
Eurostat identifies smoking as a key health risk indicator tied to sustainable development goals. In 2023, 24% of the EU population smoked, down from 26% in 2017.
According to Greece’s National Public Health Organization, smoking causes nearly 25% of male deaths and 7.5% of female deaths. It is the primary cause of COPD and is linked to most lung cancer deaths. Smoking also significantly affects fertility, pregnancy, and adolescent development.