Adult Cigarette Smoking in the United States: Current Estimates
Fact Sheets
Overview
An estimated 43.4 million people or 19.8% of all adults (aged 18 years and older) in the United States currently* smoke cigarettes.1 Cigarette smoking is more common among men (22.3%) than women (17.4%).1
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States,2 accounting for approximately 1 of every 5 deaths (443,000 people) each year.3,4
National Estimates*
By Age
|
22.2% |
of |
adults aged 18–24 years |
are current* smokers1 |
|
|
22.8% |
of |
adults aged 25–44 years |
||
|
21.0% |
of |
adults aged 45–64 years |
||
|
8.3% |
of |
adults aged 65 years and older |
By Race/Ethnicity
|
19.8% |
of |
Blacks (non-Hispanic) |
are current* smokers1 |
|
|
36.4% |
of |
American Indians/Alaska Natives |
||
|
9.6% |
of |
Asians** |
||
|
13.3% |
of |
Hispanics |
||
|
21.4% |
of |
Whites (non-Hispanic) |
By Education
|
44.0% |
of |
adults with a GED diploma |
are current* smokers1 |
|
|
33.3% |
of |
adults with 9–11 years of education |
||
|
11.4% |
of |
adults with an undergraduate college degree |
||
|
6.2% |
of |
adults with a graduate college degree |
By Poverty Status
|
28.8% |
of |
adults who live below the poverty level |
are current* smokers1 |
|
|
20.3% |
of |
adults who live at or above the poverty level |
State Estimates*
Current smoking prevalence was highest in the following states:5
| Adults | Men | Women | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 28.3% | Kentucky | 28.8% | Kentucky | 27.8% | ||
| West Virginia | 27.0% | West Virginia | 28.6% | West Virginia | 25.5% | ||
| Oklahoma | 25.8% | Oklahoma | 28.0% | Oklahoma | 23.8% | ||
Current smoking prevalence was lowest in the following states:5
| Adults | Men | Women | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 11.7% | Utah | 15.5% | Utah | 8.0% | ||
| California | 14.3% | Connecticut | 16.6% | California | 10.6% | ||
| Connecticut | 15.5% | Massachusetts | 17.4% | Hawaii | 14.3% | ||
*Current smokers are defined as persons who reported smoking at least 100 cigarettes during their lifetime and who, at the time of interview, reported smoking every day or some days.
**Excluding Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders
Note: More recent information and statistics may be available at the following CDC Web sites:
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cigarette Smoking Among Adults—United States, 2007. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2008;57(45):1221–6 [accessed 2009 Aug 18].
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Annual Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Years of Potential Life Lost, and Economic Costs—United States, 1995–1999. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2002;51(14):300–3 [accessed 2009 Aug 18].
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. State-Specific Smoking-Attributable Mortality and Years of Potential Life Lost—United States, 2000–2004. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2009;58(02):29–33 [accessed 2009 Aug 18].
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Health, United States, 2008
(PDF–8.24 MB). Hyattsville (MD): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, 2009 [accessed 2009 Aug 18]. - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. State-Specific Prevalence and Trends in Adult Cigarette Smoking—United States, 1998–2007. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2009;58(09):221–6 [accessed 2009 Aug 18].
For Further Information
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Office on Smoking and Health
E-mail: tobaccoinfo@cdc.gov
Phone: 1-800-CDC-INFO
Media Inquiries: Contact CDC's Office on Smoking and Health press line at 770-488-5493.
Contact Us:
- CDC/Office on Smoking and Health
4770 Buford Highway
MS K-50
Atlanta, Georgia 30341-3717 - 800-CDC-INFO
(800-232-4636)
TTY: (888) 232-6348
24 Hours/Every Day - tobaccoinfo@cdc.gov
