Smoking is a leading cause of preventable illness and death, harming people across the United States and worldwide. This page explores how tobacco affects major cancers and respiratory diseases like COPD, as well as heart disease, stroke, peripheral artery disease, and pregnancy-related risks. You’ll also see how secondhand smoke contributes, and why quitting can meaningfully reduce harm over time.
Key Takeaways
- Smoking causes about 90% of all lung cancer deaths in men and 80% in women in the United States
- Cigarette smoking is responsible for approximately 480,000 deaths per year in the US, with 30% attributed to lung cancer
- Smokers are 15 to 30 times more likely to die from lung cancer than nonsmokers
- Smoking increases coronary heart disease risk by 2 to 4 times
- Smokers are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop peripheral artery disease
- Smoking causes about 1 of every 4 deaths from coronary heart disease in the US
- Smoking during pregnancy increases low birth weight risk by 2-fold
- Maternal smoking causes 10% of all preterm births
- Infants of smokers have 2-4 times higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
- Smoking causes COPD in 80-90% of cases
- Smokers are 12-13 times more likely to die from COPD than nonsmokers
- Smoking accounts for 85% of COPD deaths in the US
- Secondhand smoke causes 41,000 deaths per year in US nonsmokers
- Smoking kills over 8 million people worldwide annually, including 1.2 million from secondhand smoke
- Smokers die 10 years prematurely on average
Smoking drives most lung cancer and COPD deaths, kills nearly 480,000 Americans yearly, and reduces life by a decade.
Related reading
01 · Category
Cancer Risks30 stats
01
Smoking causes about 90% of all lung cancer deaths in men and 80% in women in the United States
02
Cigarette smoking is responsible for approximately 480,000 deaths per year in the US, with 30% attributed to lung cancer
03
Smokers are 15 to 30 times more likely to die from lung cancer than nonsmokers
04
Smoking increases the risk of developing laryngeal cancer by 10 to 20 times compared to nonsmokers
05
Oral cavity and pharyngeal cancers have a relative risk of 5 to 25 times higher in smokers versus nonsmokers
06
Esophageal cancer risk is 5 times higher for current smokers compared to never smokers
07
Bladder cancer incidence is twice as high in smokers as in nonsmokers
08
Smoking accounts for 70% of stomach cancer deaths worldwide
09
Pancreatic cancer risk increases by 2 to 3 times in heavy smokers
10
Cervix cancer risk is 1.6 times higher in women who smoke compared to nonsmokers
11
Kidney cancer relative risk is 1.5 to 2.5 for smokers
12
Myeloid leukemia risk doubles in cigarette smokers
13
Smoking contributes to 12% of all cancer deaths in the US annually
14
Long-term smokers have a 20-fold increased risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the lung
15
Adenocarcinoma of the lung risk is 5-10 times higher in smokers
16
Small cell lung cancer is almost exclusively caused by smoking, with 95% of cases linked
17
Colorectal cancer risk increases by 20-30% in smokers
18
Liver cancer risk is 50% higher in smokers
19
Smoking raises prostate cancer mortality risk by 24-30%
20
Breast cancer risk may increase by 30% in premenopausal women who smoke
21
Smoking is linked to 85% of head and neck cancers
22
Risk of multiple myeloma is 1.4 times higher in smokers
23
Smokers have a 2-4 times higher risk of sinonasal cancer
24
Thyroid cancer risk slightly elevated by 20% in smokers
25
Smoking accounts for 36% of all cancer mortality in men globally
26
Women smokers have 2.3 times higher risk of anal cancer
27
Heavy smoking increases gallbladder cancer risk by 2-fold
28
Smoking cessation reduces lung cancer risk by 50% after 10 years
29
Filtered cigarettes do not reduce cancer risk, with similar rates to non-filtered
30
Menthol cigarettes increase lung cancer risk by 15% more than non-menthol
Interpretation
Cancer Risks Interpretation
For the Cancer Risks category, smoking is linked to strikingly higher cancer mortality and incidence, driving about 30% of roughly 480,000 annual US deaths from cigarette smoking and raising lung cancer deaths in men to 90% and women to 80% of cases.
02 · Category
Cardiovascular Risks27 stats
01
Smoking increases coronary heart disease risk by 2 to 4 times
02
Smokers are 2 to 4 times more likely to develop peripheral artery disease
03
Smoking causes about 1 of every 4 deaths from coronary heart disease in the US
04
Stroke risk is 2 to 4 times higher in smokers compared to nonsmokers
05
Smoking accounts for 33% of deaths from coronary heart disease globally
06
Abdominal aortic aneurysm risk is 5 times higher in smokers
07
Smokers have a 70% higher risk of atrial fibrillation
08
Smoking cessation reduces heart disease risk by 50% within 1 year
09
Secondhand smoke exposure increases heart disease risk by 25-30%
10
Smoking damages blood vessels, leading to atherosclerosis in 80% of smokers over 40
11
Heavy smokers have 4 times the risk of sudden cardiac death
12
Smoking increases blood pressure by 10-20 mmHg acutely
13
Smokers are 2 times more likely to have a heart attack before age 60
14
Nicotine constricts coronary arteries by 25-30%
15
Smoking doubles the risk of heart failure
16
Women smokers have 5.5 times higher risk of peripheral vascular disease
17
Smoking accounts for 20% of cardiovascular deaths in low-income countries
18
Bidis smoking increases MI risk by 4-fold
19
Pipe smokers have 3.5 times higher CHD risk
20
Cigar smokers have 27% higher risk of CHD death
21
Smokeless tobacco increases CVD risk by 1.4 times
22
E-cigarette use raises acute MI risk by 56%
23
Smoking impairs endothelial function by 50% within minutes
24
Smokers have 2.5 times higher carotid artery stenosis risk
25
Chronic smoking increases ventricular arrhythmias by 2-fold
26
Smoking is associated with 15% higher risk of venous thromboembolism
27
Quitting smoking at age 30 adds 10 years to life expectancy from CVD prevention
Interpretation
Cardiovascular Risks Interpretation
For cardiovascular risks, smoking dramatically elevates harm with coronary heart disease and stroke risks typically rising 2 to 4 times and smoking responsible for about 1 in 4 coronary heart disease deaths in the US and 33% globally.
03 · Category
Reproductive And Developmental Risks24 stats
01
Smoking during pregnancy increases low birth weight risk by 2-fold
02
Maternal smoking causes 10% of all preterm births
03
Infants of smokers have 2-4 times higher risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)
04
Smoking reduces fertility by 30% in women
05
Ectopic pregnancy risk is 1.6 times higher in smokers
06
Placental abruption risk doubles in smokers
07
Stillbirth risk increases by 50% with maternal smoking
08
Smoking causes 5-10% growth restriction in fetuses
09
Male smokers have 20-30% lower sperm quality
10
Smoking increases miscarriage risk by 20-30%
11
Children of smokers have 20% higher risk of childhood obesity
12
Maternal smoking linked to 1.5 times ADHD risk in offspring
13
Paternal smoking increases childhood leukemia risk by 25%
14
Smoking worsens menopausal symptoms and osteoporosis risk by 20%
15
Erectile dysfunction risk is 1.5-2 times higher in smokers
16
Smoking delays conception by 2-3 months on average
17
Secondhand smoke exposure reduces fetal growth by 100-200g
18
Smoking increases preeclampsia risk by 20%
19
Offspring of smokers have 15% higher risk of type 2 diabetes
20
Smoking accelerates ovarian aging by 2 years
21
Breastfeeding mothers who smoke have 2-fold higher mastitis risk
22
Children exposed prenatally to smoke have 50% more respiratory infections
23
Smoking increases endometrial cancer risk by 2-fold
24
Quitting smoking improves fertility within 1 year by 30%
Interpretation
Reproductive And Developmental Risks Interpretation
Under the Reproductive And Developmental Risks category, smoking appears to substantially harm pregnancy outcomes and early infant health, with low birth weight risk doubling and preterm birth contributing 10% of cases, alongside higher SIDS risk of 2 to 4 times.
More related reading
04 · Category
Respiratory Risks24 stats
01
Smoking causes COPD in 80-90% of cases
02
Smokers are 12-13 times more likely to die from COPD than nonsmokers
03
Smoking accounts for 85% of COPD deaths in the US
04
Emphysema is caused by smoking in 90% of cases
05
Chronic bronchitis prevalence is 4 times higher in smokers
06
Smoking reduces lung function by 20-30 mL/year more than nonsmokers
07
Smokers have 50% higher risk of pneumonia hospitalization
08
Tuberculosis risk increases 3-fold in active smokers
09
Asthma exacerbations are 40% more frequent in smokers
10
Smoking worsens idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis progression by 2-fold
11
Respiratory infections risk is 2-4 times higher in smokers
12
Smoking causes 73,000 asthma-related hospitalizations yearly in US adults
13
Pipe smoking increases COPD risk by 5-fold
14
Waterpipe smoking impairs lung function equivalent to 100 cigarettes/day
15
Smoking cessation slows FEV1 decline by 50 mL/year
16
Smokers have 3 times higher risk of bronchiectasis
17
Smoking increases acute respiratory distress syndrome risk by 3.5-fold
18
Sarcoidosis progression is faster in smokers by 20%
19
Smoking causes bullous lung disease in 15-20% of cases
20
Interstitial lung disease risk doubles in smokers
21
Smoking exacerbates cystic fibrosis lung decline by 30%
22
Occupational asthma is 2 times more severe in smokers
23
Smoking increases ventilator-associated pneumonia by 2-fold
24
Smokers lose 10 years of life expectancy due to COPD
Interpretation
Respiratory Risks Interpretation
Under Respiratory Risks, smoking is driving most disease outcomes with 85% of US COPD deaths tied to it and smokers being 12 to 13 times more likely to die from COPD, alongside sharply worse lung function and much higher chronic bronchitis rates.
05 · Category
Secondhand Smoke And Mortality Risks24 stats
01
Secondhand smoke causes 41,000 deaths per year in US nonsmokers
02
Smoking kills over 8 million people worldwide annually, including 1.2 million from secondhand smoke
03
Smokers die 10 years prematurely on average
04
Tobacco kills more than 480,000 Americans yearly
05
Quitting at 40 avoids 9/10 premature deaths from smoking
06
Secondhand smoke increases lung cancer risk by 20-30% in nonsmokers
07
Smoking causes 100 million deaths in 20th century, projected 1 billion in 21st
08
1.3 billion tobacco users globally
09
Secondhand smoke causes 400,000 asthma attacks in US children yearly
10
Smokeless tobacco causes 8% of US tobacco deaths
11
Global smoking-attributable mortality is 7.7 million/year
12
Secondhand smoke stroke risk up 20-30%
13
Hookah smoke exposure equivalent to 100 cigarettes in toxins
14
Smoking costs US $300 billion/year in healthcare and productivity
15
16 million Americans live with smoking-related disease
16
Secondhand smoke causes 7,300 lung cancer deaths/year in US
17
Every smoker loses 11 minutes of life per cigarette smoked
18
Tobacco epidemic kills 50% of long-term users prematurely
19
Secondhand smoke otitis media risk up 63% in children
20
Global Youth Tobacco Survey shows 37 million kids smoke daily
21
Smoking cessation adds 10 years life expectancy if quit before 40
22
Secondhand smoke increases breast cancer risk by 10-20%
23
E-cigarette secondhand aerosol increases particulate exposure by 10-fold
24
Smoking-related diseases cost EU €25 billion/year
Interpretation
Secondhand Smoke And Mortality Risks Interpretation
In the Secondhand Smoke and Mortality Risks category, secondhand smoke contributes about 1.2 million deaths worldwide each year and around 41,000 deaths in US nonsmokers, showing that the harm of smoking extends far beyond the smoker.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Marie Larsen. (2026, February 13). Smoking Health Risks Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/smoking-health-risks-statistics
MLA
Marie Larsen. "Smoking Health Risks Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/smoking-health-risks-statistics.
Chicago
Marie Larsen. 2026. "Smoking Health Risks Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/smoking-health-risks-statistics.
Sources & references
26 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level