This statistic displays the prevalence of cigarette smoking among adults in the United Kingdom from 1974 to 2019, by gender. The prevalence of smoking among men and women has substantially declined since 1974. In 2019, 15.9 percent of men and 12.5 percent of women smoked cigarettes, which is one third the rate reported in 1974.

Annual data on the proportion of adults in England who smoke cigarettes, cigarette consumption, the proportion who have never smoked cigarettes and the proportion of smokers who have quit by sex and age over time.

As of 2022, the percentage of young adults between 18 and 24 years of age who currently smoked in the UK was 11.6 percent. The age group in the UK with the highest amount of current smokers was those between 25 and 34 years old, at 16.3 percent of the total population. In the older age groups (55-64, and 65+) there was a prevalence towards reduced smoking rates compared to younger age groups.

Historical chart and dataset showing U.K. smoking rate by year from 2000 to 2022.

This statistic shows the proportion of cigarette smokers in Great Britain from 2000 to 2012 (as a percentage of population). Over this thirteen year period, the amount of smokers among the population decreased by 7 percent. In the most recent years this fall slowed, remaining at 21 percent from 2007 to 2008 before decreasing again by 1 percent for the most recent three year period.

Annual data and annual historic data on the proportion of adults who currently smoke, the proportion of ex-smokers and proportion of those who have never smoked, by sex and age.

This report presents newly published information on smoking including: Smoking-related hospital admissions from NHS Digital's Hospital Episode Statistics (HES). Smoking-related deaths from Office for National Statistics (ONS) mortality statistics. Prescription items used to help people stop smoking from prescribing data held by NHS Prescription Services. Affordability of tobacco and expenditure on tobacco using ONS economic data. Two new years of data have been provided for hospital admissions (2018/19 and 2019/20) and deaths (2018 and 2019) and one year of data for prescribing (2018/19) and affordability and expenditure (2019). The report also provides links to information on smoking by adults and children drawn together from a variety of sources. Key facts cover the latest year of data available: Hospital admissions: 2019/20 Deaths: 2019 Prescriptions: 2019/20

In England in 2022, 21 percent of men and 15 percent of women aged between 25 and 34 years were current smokers, this is the highest share of male and female smokers across the age groups. Across all age groups men either had a higher or equal share of smokers compared to females. Situation north of the border In Scotland, the highest share of regular smokers is found in the age group between 45 to 64 years at 13 percent, followed by those aged between 16 and 44 years at 12 percent. In 2020, 11 percent of men and eight percent of women overall in Scotland were current smokers. Dangers of smoking  Over 1.9 million admissions to NHS hospitals in England in the financial year 2019/20 were caused by smoking. The number of admissions as a result of smoking has been creeping upwards since 2000. Consequently, the number of admissions due to cancers caused by smoking in England has increased since the year 2000, reaching almost 381 thousand in 2019/20. 

This statistic displays the number of cigarettes smoked in the last week by school children in England, United Kingdom in 2023. In this year, 27 percent of occasional smokers and 23 percent of regular smokers aged between 11 years and 15 years smoked between one and six cigarettes over the last week.

In England in 2022, 60 percent of men and 68 percent of women said they never regularly smoked cigarettes, while 26 percent of men and 21 percent of women mentioned they used to smoke cigarettes regularly. Smokers broken down by age Across all age groups in England, males have a higher or equal share of smokers compared to females. In 2020, 22 percent of men and 15 percent of women aged between 25 and 34 years were current smokers, this is the highest share of male and female smokers across the age groups. While 11 percent of men aged between 16 and 24 years are classed as current smokers. Dangers of smoking   Almost two million admissions to NHS hospitals in England in the financial year 2019/20 were caused by smoking. The number of admissions as a result of smoking has been creeping upwards since 2000. Consequently, the number of admissions due to cancers caused by smoking in England has increased since the year 2000, reaching around 382 thousand in 2019/20. 

Update: On 11/07/2016 historical data in excel table 1.2 was updated to reflect revisions made to the source data by ONS. The chart which uses these data on slide 23 has not been updated as the revisions have a minimal effect on the trends in the data series. This statistical report presents a range of information on smoking which is drawn together from a variety of sources. The report aims to present a broad picture of health issues relating to smoking in England and covers topics such as smoking prevalence, habits, behaviours and attitudes among adults and school children, smoking-related ill health and mortality and smoking-related costs. The topics covered include: Part 1: Smoking patterns in adults Part 2: Smoking patterns in children Part 3: Availability and affordability of tobacco Part 4: Behaviour and attitudes to smoking Part 5: Smoking-related costs, ill health and mortality Each part provides an overview of the key findings on these topics, as well as providing links to sources of further information and relevant documents. This report contains data and information previously published by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), Department of Health, the Office for National Statistics and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs. The report also includes new analyses carried out by the Health and Social Care Information Centre.

This statistic displays the share of children who have tried smoking in England, in 2023, by gender and age. In this year, six percent of boys and three percent of girls aged 11 years old had tried smoking.

United Kingdom UK: Smoking Prevalence: Total: % of Adults: Aged 15+ data was reported at 22.300 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 23.100 % for 2015. United Kingdom UK: Smoking Prevalence: Total: % of Adults: Aged 15+ data is updated yearly, averaging 25.500 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 38.200 % in 2000 and a record low of 22.300 % in 2016. United Kingdom UK: Smoking Prevalence: Total: % of Adults: Aged 15+ data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Prevalence of smoking is the percentage of men and women ages 15 and over who currently smoke any tobacco product on a daily or non-daily basis. It excludes smokeless tobacco use. The rates are age-standardized.; ; World Health Organization, Global Health Observatory Data Repository (http://apps.who.int/ghodata/).; Weighted average;

This statistic shows the proportion of cigarette smokers, by gender, in Great Britain from 2000 to 2012 (as a percentage of population). Over this thirteen year period, the amount of male and female smokers decreased by 7 and 6 percent respectively. Over the entire period, the male smoking rate was always higher than that of the females, with the difference ranging from 1 to 4 percent.

The data shows that with increasing higher education, the share of the population that currently smoked decreased. As of 2022, the share of the population in the UK that had a degree and currently smoked was 6.5 percent. The share of the population that had no qualifications and currently smoked, on the other hand, was approximately 27 percent.

Forecast: Smoking Prevalence in the UK 2024 - 2028 Discover more data with ReportLinker!

This statistic displays the national smoking rates of adults in the United Kingdom (UK) in 2019, by country. The largest proportion of smokers was in Scotland, with 16.3 percent of adults smokers based in this country.