Around 1.2 billion people worldwide are current cigarette smokers, with adults in the US at 5.6% in 2023. Prevalence varies sharply, from 28.0% in Turkey to 18.4% in Wales, and it reaches about 43% among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults in Australia. The article connects these population rates to education, disability, pregnancy, and poverty, then examines which cessation supports improve quit outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- In Mexico, 15.3% of adults were current cigarette smokers in 2018 (modelled estimate).
- In the US, 5.6% of adults (about 14.6 million) were current cigarette smokers in 2023 (age ≥18).
- In England, 17.8% of adults were current cigarette smokers in 2018.
- In the US, 30.8% of adults with less than a high school education smoked cigarettes versus 8.5% with a bachelor’s degree (NHIS 2019).
- In the US, 32.0% of people with disabilities smoked cigarettes in 2018 versus 18.0% without disabilities (NHIS).
- In the US, 27.0% of people living below the poverty level smoked in 2018 versus 12.0% of those above poverty (NHIS).
- In the US, 7.8% of high school students reported “ever tried cigarettes” in 2023 (YRBS).
- In the US, 2.7% of middle school students reported current cigarette use in 2023 (YRBS).
- In the US, e-cigarettes use rose to 11.3% of high school students in 2019, while cigarette use declined to 5.8% (CDC trend data).
- In the US, Medicaid smoking cessation quitline utilization increased to 6.0 million calls in 2020 (QUIT smoking program).
- In the US, bupropion increases smoking cessation rates by about 1.6x compared with placebo (meta-analysis; relative).
- In the UK, pharmacotherapy plus behavioral support increases successful quitting by about 50% over behavioral support alone (Cochrane review summary).
- Approximately 1.2 billion people worldwide are current smokers (about 20% of men and 5% of women)
- Smokers in the US lose about 10 years of life on average (estimated compared with never-smokers)
- Japan Tobacco International reported $28.6 billion in net revenues in 2023
Around 1 in 5 to 1 in 4 adults still smoke worldwide, while higher taxes and cessation support help people quit.
Related reading
01 · Category
Youth And Trends8 stats
01
In the US, 7.8% of high school students reported “ever tried cigarettes” in 2023 (YRBS).
02
In the US, 2.7% of middle school students reported current cigarette use in 2023 (YRBS).
03
In the US, e-cigarettes use rose to 11.3% of high school students in 2019, while cigarette use declined to 5.8% (CDC trend data).
04
In the UK, smoking status among 15-year-olds: 4.0% reported smoking at least one cigarette a week in 2018 (HBSC England).
05
In Australia, 3.9% of students aged 12–17 smoked cigarettes weekly in 2019 (online youth survey).
06
In Germany, 10.0% of 15-year-olds reported smoking in the past 30 days in 2019 (HBSC).
07
In 2017–2018, US high school students who smoked cigarettes had 9.0 days in past 30 days (median days smoked; survey).
08
In England, smoking prevalence among adults was 14.9% in 2019 and 12.4% in 2022 (trend).
Interpretation
Youth And Trends Interpretation
Across youth in multiple countries, cigarette use appears relatively low but remains a serious presence, with 7.8% of US high school students reporting they ever tried cigarettes in 2023 and only 2.7% reporting current use in 2023 while e cigarette use peaked at 11.3% among US high school students in 2019.
02 · Category
Cessation Reach8 stats
01
In the US, Medicaid smoking cessation quitline utilization increased to 6.0 million calls in 2020 (QUIT smoking program).
02
In the US, bupropion increases smoking cessation rates by about 1.6x compared with placebo (meta-analysis; relative).
03
In the UK, pharmacotherapy plus behavioral support increases successful quitting by about 50% over behavioral support alone (Cochrane review summary).
04
In the US, 70% of smokers report wanting to quit completely (2019 survey).
05
In the US, evidence-based interventions like quitlines improve quitting: 30-day abstinence increases by about 20%–50% (systematic review).
06
In the US, web-based cessation programs increase quit attempts by about 60% versus minimal intervention (meta-analysis).
07
In the UK, community pharmacy-delivered smoking cessation services were associated with a quit rate of 14.3% for abstinence at 4 weeks (study).
08
In the US, 2.6 million people received counseling from the national quitline network in 2022 (Quitline reports).
Interpretation
Cessation Reach Interpretation
Across cessation reach, the US momentum is clear with Medicaid quitline use rising to 6.0 million calls in 2020 and web-based programs increasing quit attempts by about 60%, showing that making evidence-based support more accessible can rapidly bring more smokers into quitting efforts.
03 · Category
Health Disparities7 stats
01
In the US, 30.8% of adults with less than a high school education smoked cigarettes versus 8.5% with a bachelor’s degree (NHIS 2019).
02
In the US, 32.0% of people with disabilities smoked cigarettes in 2018 versus 18.0% without disabilities (NHIS).
03
In the US, 27.0% of people living below the poverty level smoked in 2018 versus 12.0% of those above poverty (NHIS).
04
In Australia, smoking prevalence was 3.1 times higher among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults (around 43%) than non-Indigenous adults (around 16%) (2018-19).
05
In the US, current smoking among adults with chronic kidney disease was 17.5% versus 13.0% among those without (NHANES 2017-2018).
06
In the US, current cigarette smoking prevalence was 18.3% among adults with a disability compared with 12.9% without a disability (BRFSS 2021).
07
In the US, 2015–2018 smoking prevalence among pregnant women was 8.4% overall, with higher rates among younger and less-educated groups (CDC).
Interpretation
Health Disparities Interpretation
Across multiple groups, cigarette smoking is consistently higher among people facing disadvantage, such as those with less than a high school education (30.8% versus 8.5% with a bachelor’s degree) and people living below the poverty level (27.0% versus 12.0%), underscoring persistent health disparities.
More related reading
04 · Category
Population Prevalence5 stats
01
In Mexico, 15.3% of adults were current cigarette smokers in 2018 (modelled estimate).
02
In the US, 5.6% of adults (about 14.6 million) were current cigarette smokers in 2023 (age ≥18).
03
In England, 17.8% of adults were current cigarette smokers in 2018.
04
In Wales, 18.4% of adults were current smokers in 2018/19 (estimate).
05
In Turkey, 28.0% of adults were current smokers in 2018 (age ≥15).
Interpretation
Population Prevalence Interpretation
Across countries, population prevalence of current cigarette smoking varies widely, from about 5.6% of US adults in 2023 to 28.0% of adults in Turkey in 2018, showing a stark international gap in how widespread smoking is at the population level.
05 · Category
Policy & Taxes5 stats
01
Global tobacco taxes raised about $1.4 trillion (international estimate of tax revenue potential from tobacco control reforms)
02
Raising tobacco excise taxes by 50% typically reduces cigarette consumption by about 20% worldwide (econometric estimates summarized by OECD policy reports)
03
In the US, state and federal tobacco tax rates vary widely; the average combined state tax was $1.37per pack of 20 cigarettes in 2024 (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids compilation)
04
Smoke-free policies reduce smoking prevalence and increase quit rates; a systematic review found comprehensive smoke-free laws reduce cigarette consumption by 3%–5% (peer-reviewed synthesis)
05
Graphic health warnings increase attention to cigarette packs; a study found warning labels increased pack attention by 39% compared with text-only warnings (randomized study)
Interpretation
Policy & Taxes Interpretation
Policy and taxes can meaningfully curb smoking, since raising tobacco excise taxes by 50% typically cuts worldwide cigarette consumption by about 20% and generates an estimated $1.4 trillion in tax-revenue potential from tobacco control reforms.
06 · Category
Industry Overview10 stats
01
In the US, the median time from first cigarette to daily smoking among current smokers was 2.0 years (cohort study)
02
Brief clinician advice increases future smoking quit attempts by 1.5 times on average (Cochrane-style meta-analysis findings reported by authoritative review literature)
03
Telephone quitlines worldwide report that callers are about 2-3 times more likely to achieve abstinence than unassisted smokers (compiled evidence in an official WHO publication)
04
Cigarette smoking accounts for about 8% of total health-care expenditure in the US (estimated attributable burden)
05
Japan Tobacco International reported $28.6 billion in net revenues in 2023
06
Philip Morris International reported $34.8 billion in net revenues in 2023
07
British American Tobacco reported $33.7 billion in revenue in 2023
08
Approximately 1.2 billion people worldwide are current smokers (about 20% of men and 5% of women)
09
Smokers in the US lose about 10 years of life on average (estimated compared with never-smokers)
10
In France, 24.1% of adults were current smokers in 2022 (Eurobarometer)
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
From an industry overview perspective, the data show both high consumer entrenchment and substantial financial scale, with US smokers taking a median 2.0 years to progress to daily use while the sector generates major revenues in 2023, including $34.8 billion for Philip Morris International and $28.6 billion for Japan Tobacco International.
report visual · Key figures
Youth cigarette use vs e-cigarette use (US)
US data show higher e-cigarette use among high school students in 2019 alongside lower cigarette use.
11.3%
In the US, e-cigarettes use rose to 11.3% of high school students in 2019, while cigarette use declined to 5.8% (CDC tre
7.8%
In the US, 7.8% of high school students reported “ever tried cigarettes” in 2023 (YRBS).
2.7%
In the US, 2.7% of middle school students reported current cigarette use in 2023 (YRBS).
source-verifiedcdc.gov2023
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Rachel Svensson. (2026, February 13). Cigarette Smoking Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cigarette-smoking-statistics
MLA
Rachel Svensson. "Cigarette Smoking Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/cigarette-smoking-statistics.
Chicago
Rachel Svensson. 2026. "Cigarette Smoking Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/cigarette-smoking-statistics.
Sources & references
43 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+21 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)