From 1965 to 2019, the prevalence of cigarette smoking in the U.S. has decreased from about ** percent to ** percent. Cigarette smoking is a known risk factor for many types of cancers, including lung cancer, bladder cancer and pancreatic cancer. Globally, tobacco use is one of the greatest risk factors for preventable diseases. There are several resources in the United States to help individuals quit smoking, including websites, hotlines, medications and text message programs. Smoking prevalence globally Globally, smoking prevalence has also decreased, and is projected to continue to decline through 2025. North America comprises a small percentage of the world’s cigarette smokers. The highest prevalence of tobacco smoking can be found in Europe, followed by the Western Pacific. In the past few decades, there have been stronger efforts made to reduce cigarette consumption in many parts of the world. Cigarettes are taxed separately in many countries and are often required to add health warnings to cigarette packaging for consumers. Smoking cessation measures Smoking prevention measures cover a broad range of targeted cigarette reduction. Common tobacco control policies include warning labels, advertising bans, and smoke-free environments. As of 2022, around ** percent of the world population lived in a place where there were warning labels on tobacco products.

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.

As of 2022, around 28.8 million adults in the United States were current cigarette smokers. Although this figure is still high, it is significantly lower compared to previous years. For example, in 2011, there were almost 44 million smokers in the United States. Smoking demographics in the U.S. Although smoking in the U.S. has decreased greatly over the past few decades, it is still more common among certain demographics than others. For example, men are more likely to be current cigarette smokers than women, with 13 percent of men smoking in 2021, compared to 10 percent of women. Furthermore, non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic Blacks smoke at higher rates than Hispanics and non-Hispanic Asians, with almost 13 percent of non-Hispanic whites smoking in 2022, compared to just under five percent of non-Hispanic Asians. Certain regions and states also have a higher prevalence of smoking than others, with around 20 percent of adults in West Virginia considered current smokers, compared to just six percent in Utah. The health impacts of smoking The decrease in smoking rates in the United States over the past decades is due to many factors, including policies and regulations limiting cigarette advertising, promotion, and sales, price increases for cigarettes, and widespread awareness among the public of the dangers of smoking. According to the CDC, those who smoke are two to four times more likely to develop coronary heart disease and stroke and around 25 times more likely to develop lung cancer than nonsmokers. In fact, it is estimated that around 85 percent of lung cancer deaths in the United States can be attributed to cigarette smoking, as well as 79 percent of larynx cancer deaths. Cigarette smokers are also much more likely to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with around 16 percent of current smokers in the U.S. living with COPD in 2021, compared to just three percent of those who had never smoked.

The total number of cigarettes consumed in the United States has decreased over the past few decades. In 2015, around 267 billion cigarettes were consumed, compared to around 632 billion in 1980. This decrease is most likely due to a combination of higher taxes on cigarettes, restrictions on public smoking, and increased awareness of the health risks of smoking.

Health risks of smoking

The negative health impacts of smoking are now widely known and proven. Among men, smokers are 25 times more likely to develop lung cancer than nonsmokers. Smoking also increases the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and other cancers. Around 47 percent of deaths from oral cavity and pharynx cancers can be attributed to cigarette smoking as well as 45 percent of deaths from urinary bladder cancer.

Quitting

A large percentage of smokers want to quit, with up to 78 percent of those who smoke less than one pack a day wanting to do so. Quitting smoking can be extremely difficult, but there are many ways to assist in breaking the habit. Smoking cessation programs are one of the most popular wellness programs employers provide to employees in the United States.

United States US: Smoking Prevalence: Total: % of Adults: Aged 15+ data was reported at 21.800 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 22.300 % for 2015. United States US: Smoking Prevalence: Total: % of Adults: Aged 15+ data is updated yearly, averaging 23.900 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 31.400 % in 2000 and a record low of 21.800 % in 2016. United States US: 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 USA – Table US.World Bank: 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;

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

India smoking rate for 2022 was 24.30%, a 0.9% decline from 2021.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>India smoking rate for 2021 was <strong>25.20%</strong>, a <strong>0.9% decline</strong> from 2020.</li>
<li>India smoking rate for 2020 was <strong>26.10%</strong>, a <strong>2% decline</strong> from 2019.</li>
<li>India smoking rate for 2019 was <strong>28.10%</strong>, a <strong>0% increase</strong> from 2018.</li>
</ul>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.

Annual data on the proportion of adults in Great Britain 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.

Canada smoking rate for 2020 was 13.00%, a 0.6% decline from 2019.

<ul style='margin-top:20px;'>

<li>Canada smoking rate for 2019 was <strong>13.60%</strong>, a <strong>0% increase</strong> from 2018.</li>
<li>Canada smoking rate for 2018 was <strong>13.60%</strong>, a <strong>2.2% decline</strong> from 2015.</li>
<li>Canada smoking rate for 2015 was <strong>15.80%</strong>, a <strong>3.5% decline</strong> from 2010.</li>
</ul>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.

It is projected that the prevalence of tobacco smoking will be 15.4 percent by 2025, a decrease from a prevalence of 27 percent in the year 2000. This statistic depicts the prevalence of tobacco smoking worldwide from 2000 to 2020 and projections for 2025.

United States US: Smoking Prevalence: Males: % of Adults data was reported at 24.600 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 25.100 % for 2015. United States US: Smoking Prevalence: Males: % of Adults data is updated yearly, averaging 26.800 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 34.500 % in 2000 and a record low of 24.600 % in 2016. United States US: Smoking Prevalence: Males: % of Adults data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.World Bank: Health Statistics. Prevalence of smoking, male is the percentage of men 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;

Indonesia ID: Smoking Prevalence: Total: % of Adults: Aged 15+ data was reported at 39.400 % in 2016. This records an increase from the previous number of 39.000 % for 2015. Indonesia ID: Smoking Prevalence: Total: % of Adults: Aged 15+ data is updated yearly, averaging 37.600 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 39.400 % in 2016 and a record low of 32.900 % in 2000. Indonesia ID: 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 Indonesia – Table ID.World Bank: 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;

Turkey TR: Smoking Prevalence: Total: % of Adults: Aged 15+ data was reported at 27.200 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 27.700 % for 2015. Turkey TR: Smoking Prevalence: Total: % of Adults: Aged 15+ data is updated yearly, averaging 29.500 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 38.400 % in 2000 and a record low of 27.200 % in 2016. Turkey TR: 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 Turkey – Table TR.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;

Smoking rates for each Census Tract in Allegheny County were produced for the study “Developing small-area predictions for smoking and obesity prevalence in the United States.” The data is not explicitly based on population surveys or data collection conducted in Allegheny County, but rather estimated using statistical modeling techniques. In this technique, researchers applied the smoking rate of a demographically similar Census Tract to one in Allegheny County to compute a smoking rate.

Support for Health Equity datasets and tools provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) through their Health Equity Initiative.

France FR: Smoking Prevalence: Males: % of Adults data was reported at 35.600 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 35.800 % for 2015. France FR: Smoking Prevalence: Males: % of Adults data is updated yearly, averaging 36.400 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 39.800 % in 2000 and a record low of 35.600 % in 2016. France FR: Smoking Prevalence: Males: % of Adults data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s France – Table FR.World Bank: Health Statistics. Prevalence of smoking, male is the percentage of men 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;

In 2020, around 5.2 trillion cigarettes were consumed worldwide. This was a decrease from the total number of cigarettes consumed in previous years. The region with the highest number of cigarettes consumed worldwide, excluding China, is Europe. However, China alone consumed over double the number of cigarettes that Europe did in 2020.

Smoking continues to decrease around the world Overall, the prevalence of tobacco smoking has decreased around the world. In the year 2000, it was estimated that around 27 percent of the world population smoked, with this number decreasing to 17 percent by the year 2020. Every region around the world has seen a decrease in tobacco smoking, but some places have seen larger declines than others with South-East Asia seeing the largest change from 2000 to 2020. Men continue to smoke at much higher rates than women, although the prevalence of tobacco smoking among both men and women has declined over the past two decades. In 2020, around 29 percent of men and five percent of women worldwide smoked. In the year 2000 an astonishing 44 percent of men smoked tobacco.

Which countries smoke the most? As of 2019, the country with the highest number of smokers was China. As of that time, there were around 341 million people in China who smoked. However, given that China is the country with the largest population worldwide, it may not be surprising that it has the highest number of smokers. When looking at the percentage of the population that smokes, China is not even among the top 20 countries. The countries with the highest prevalence of smokers are Kiribati, Nauru, and Papa New Guinea. On both of the small Pacific Island countries of Kiribati and Nauru around 37 percent of the population smokes tobacco.

Japan JP: Smoking Prevalence: Males: % of Adults data was reported at 33.700 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 34.700 % for 2015. Japan JP: Smoking Prevalence: Males: % of Adults data is updated yearly, averaging 37.700 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 52.500 % in 2000 and a record low of 33.700 % in 2016. Japan JP: Smoking Prevalence: Males: % of Adults data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Japan – Table JP.World Bank: Health Statistics. Prevalence of smoking, male is the percentage of men 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;

Italy IT: Smoking Prevalence: Males: % of Adults data was reported at 27.800 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 28.100 % for 2015. Italy IT: Smoking Prevalence: Males: % of Adults data is updated yearly, averaging 29.100 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 33.200 % in 2000 and a record low of 27.800 % in 2016. Italy IT: Smoking Prevalence: Males: % of Adults data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Italy – Table IT.World Bank: Health Statistics. Prevalence of smoking, male is the percentage of men 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;

As of 2023, the U.S. states with the highest smoking rates included West Virginia, Tennessee, and Louisiana. In West Virginia, around 20 percent of all adults smoked as of this time. The number of smokers in the United States has decreased over the past decades. Who smokes? The smoking rates for both men and women have decreased for many years, but men continue to smoke at higher rates than women. As of 2021, around 13 percent of men were smokers compared to 10 percent of women. Concerning race and ethnicity, smoking is least prevalent among Asians with just five percent of this population smoking compared to 13 percent of non-Hispanic whites. Health impacts of smoking The negative health impacts of smoking are vast. Smoking increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and many different types of cancers. For example, smoking is estimated to be attributable to 81 percent of all deaths from lung cancer among adults 30 years and older in the United States. Smoking is currently the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.

Vietnam VN: Smoking Prevalence: Males: % of Adults data was reported at 45.900 % in 2016. This records a decrease from the previous number of 46.400 % for 2015. Vietnam VN: Smoking Prevalence: Males: % of Adults data is updated yearly, averaging 46.900 % from Dec 2000 (Median) to 2016, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 50.000 % in 2000 and a record low of 45.900 % in 2016. Vietnam VN: Smoking Prevalence: Males: % of Adults data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by World Bank. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Vietnam – Table VN.World Bank.WDI: Health Statistics. Prevalence of smoking, male is the percentage of men 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;