Percentage of adults* who were current, former, or never smokers,† overall and by sex, race, Hispanic origin, age, education, and poverty status

National Health Interview Surveys, Selected Years—United States, 1965–2006

	1965	1970	1974	1978	1980	1983	1985	1987	1990	1993	1995	1997	1999	2001	2002	2003	2004*	2006
Smoking Status
Total Population
Current	42.4	37.4	37.1	34.1	33.2	32.1	30.1	28.8	25.5	25.0	24.7	24.7	23.5	22.8	22.5	21.6	20.9	20.8
Former	13.6	18.5	19.5	20.8	21.3	21.8	24.2	22.8	24.6	24.6	23.3	22.8	23.1	22.2	22.6	21.8	21.4	21.0
Never	44.0	44.2	43.4	45.0	45.5	46.1	45.8	48.4	49.9	50.5	52.0	52.4	53.5	55.0	54.9	56.6	57.7	58.2
Sex
Male
Current	51.9	44.1	43.1	38.1	37.6	35.1	32.6	31.2	28.4	27.7	27.0	27.6	25.7	25.2	25.2	24.1	23.4	23.9
Former	19.8	26.3	27.7	28.3	28.1	28.3	30.9	28.9	30.3	29.9	27.5	27.0	27.3	26.4	26.4	25.2	24.8	24.5
Never	28.3	29.6	29.2	33.6	34.4	36.6	36.5	39.9	41.3	42.4	45.5	45.4	47.0	48.5	48.4	50.7	51.7	51.6
Female
Current	33.9	31.5	32.1	30.7	29.3	29.5	27.9	26.5	22.8	22.5	22.6	22.1	21.5	20.7	20.0	19.2	18.5	18.0
Former	8.0	11.6	12.7	14.2	15.1	15.9	18.1	17.4	19.5	19.7	19.5	19.0	19.2	18.3	19.1	18.7	18.3	17.8
Never	58.1	56.9	55.2	55.2	55.5	54.6	54.0	56.0	57.7	57.8	57.9	58.9	59.3	61.1	60.9	62.1	63.2	64.2
Race§
White (Non-Hispanic)
Current	42.1	37.0	36.4	33.9	32.9	31.8	29.6	28.5	25.6	24.9	24.8	24.8	23.7	23.4	22.9	21.8	22.16	21.9
Former	14.2	19.4	20.5	21.9	22.2	22.8	25.5	24.2	25.9	26.2	24.9	24.6	24.9	24.1	24.3	23.3	24.71	24.6
Never	43.8	43.6	43.1	44.3	44.9	45.3	44.9	47.3	48.5	48.9	50.3	50.7	51.5	52.5	52.8	54.9	53.13	53.5
Black (Non-Hispanic)
Current	45.8	41.4	44.0	37.7	36.9	35.9	34.9	32.9	26.2	26.1	25.7	26.8	24.3	22.3	22.5	21.8	20.5	23.0
Former	8.4	10.7	10.8	13.3	13.8	14.2	15.9	14.8	16.7	15.7	14.4	13.6	15.4	14.5	15.5	14.3	12.9	12.6
Never	45.8	47.8	45.3	49.0	49.4	49.9	49.2	52.3	57.1	58.2	59.9	59.6	60.3	63.2	62.0	64.0	66.7	64.5
Hispanic
Current	N/A	N/A	N/A	31.6	30.0	25.3	25.9	23.6	23.0	20.4	18.3	20.4	18.1	16.7	16.7	16.4	15.0	15.2
Former	N/A	N/A	N/A	15.6	15.1	15.7	17.2	16.1	17.0	16.2	16.5	14.9	14.7	14.3	15.0	12.9	13.2	12.7
Never	N/A	N/A	N/A	52.9	54.9	59.0	56.9	60.4	60.0	63.4	65.2	64.7	67.2	69.1	68.4	70.8	71.7	72.1
Non-Hispanic
Current	N/A	N/A	N/A	34.3	33.4	32.6	30.3	29.2	25.7	25.4	25.4	25.2	24.1	23.6	23.2	22.3	21.7	N/A
Former	N/A	N/A	N/A	21.1	21.6	22.2	24.6	23.4	25.3	25.2	24.1	23.7	24.0	23.1	23.5	23.1	22.6	N/A
Never	N/A	N/A	N/A	44.6	45.0	45.3	45.1	47.5	49.0	49.4	50.6	51.1	51.9	53.3	53.2	54.6	55.7	N/A
Asian/Pacific Islander
Current	N/A	N/A	N/A	24.2	24.1	20.7	21.8	14.3	16.4	18.2	16.6	16.5	15.0	12.4	13.3	11.8	11.3	10.4
Former	N/A	N/A	N/A	14.0	15.4	14.6	12.6	10.7	14.4	15.6	13.8	14.6	11.7	9.6	11.8	13.9	12.1	11.1
Never	N/A	N/A	N/A	61.8	60.5	64.7	65.7	75.0	69.2	66.3	69.6	68.9	73.3	78.0	74.9	74.3	76.6	78.4
American Indian/Alaska Native
Current	N/A	N/A	N/A	45.2	60.1	39.6	32.6	37.4	38.4	38.7	36.3	32.1	41.2	32.7	40.8	39.7	33.4	32.4
Former	N/A	N/A	N/A	22.7	20.9	22.6	20.8	23.9	20.7	20.9	19.6	21.1	17.0	20.5	20.6	14.3	21.2	25.6
Never	N/A	N/A	N/A	32.1	19.1	37.8	46.6	38.8	40.9	40.4	44.2	46.8	41.8	46.8	38.7	46.0	45.4	42.0
Age (years)
18–24
Current	45.5	38.0	37.8	34.4	33.3	34.2	29.3	27.1	24.5	25.8	24.8	28.7	27.9	26.9	28.5	23.9	23.6	23.9
Former	6.9	9.2	9.5	9.2	10.5	9.3	10.1	8.0	9.5	7.2	8.6	7.3	7.6	7.8	7.5	7.1	7.0	5.9
Never	47.6	52.8	52.7	56.4	56.2	56.5	60.6	64.9	66.0	67.0	66.6	64.0	64.5	65.4	64.0	69.0	69.4	70.2
25–44
Current	51.2	44.6	44.5	39.3	37.8	36.3	34.8	33.2	29.7	29.2	28.6	28.6	27.3	25.9	25.7	25.6	23.8	23.5
Former	13.6	18.8	18.4	19.5	19.8	19.0	21.4	19.6	20.0	18.6	17.5	15.9	15.4	14.5	15.0	14.2	13.4	13.7
Never	35.3	36.6	37.1	41.2	42.5	44.7	43.8	47.2	50.3	52.2	53.8	55.5	57.3	59.7	59.3	60.2	62.8	62.8
45–64
Current	41.6	38.6	37.7	36.7	35.6	33.3	31.6	30.9	27.0	26.0	25.5	24.4	23.3	23.8	22.7	22.0	22.4	21.8
Former	16.1	21.7	24.8	26.1	26.6	28.8	31.2	29.9	32.9	33.9	30.9	31.2	31.0	29.4	29.4	28.0	27.9	26.9
Never	42.3	39.7	37.5	37.3	37.9	37.9	37.3	39.3	40.1	40.1	43.5	44.3	45.7	46.9	47.9	50.0	49.8	51.3
>=65
Current	17.9	16.1	17.3	16.3	17.2	16.7	16.0	15.2	12.8	11.8	13.0	12.0	10.6	10.2	9.3	9.1	8.8	10.2
Former	15.0	21.3	23.3	28.1	27.9	30.7	34.0	34.1	36.6	38.4	37.7	38.6	40.6	39.3	40.5	40.00	39.3	37.9
Never	67.2	62.6	59.4	55.6	54.9	52.6	50.0	50.7	50.6	49.8	49.3	49.4	48.8	50.6	50.3	50.9	51.9	52.0
Education¶
<8
Current	N/A	32.7	32.8	28.7	28.4	28.5	26.7	27.0	23.9	20.5	22.6	22.5	18.3	18.6	19.3	17.6	16.7	17.4
Former	N/A	18.5	19.8	22.5	23.0	23.9	27.8	25.6	26.7	27.4	25.1	24.7	26.3	24.9	24.2	22.7	23.9	21.3
Never	N/A	48.8	47.4	48.8	48.6	47.6	45.5	47.3	49.4	52.1	52.3	52.8	55.3	56.5	56.6	59.7	59.4	61.4
9–11
Current	N/A	44.6	44.8	44.2	43.8	41.4	41.4	41.2	37.1	36.8	37.5	34.1	35.3	33.3	33.5	33.0	32.0	32.7
Former	N/A	18.8	19.8	19.1	20.1	22.4	24.8	24.0	26.0	26.8	25.5	25.3	23.8	24.8	24.7	22.9	22.1	23.0
Never	N/A	36.6	35.4	36.8	36.1	36.2	33.7	34.8	36.9	36.4	37.0	40.6	40.9	41.8	41.9	44.1	45.8	44.3
<12
Current	N/A	37.5	37.8	35.7	35.1	34.7	34.2	34.2	30.8	29.7	30.4	29.5	28.4	27.5	27.6	26.6	26.2	N/A
Former	N/A	18.6	19.8	21.0	21.7	23.2	26.3	24.8	26.3	27.1	25.3	25.1	24.8	24.9	24.5	22.8	22.8	N/A
Never	N/A	43.9	42.4	43.4	43.2	42.2	39.6	41.0	42.9	43.3	44.2	45.5	46.8	47.6	47.9	50.6	51.0	N/A
12
Current	N/A	39.3	38.8	37.0	35.4	34.9	33.4	32.9	30.1	29.2	29.5	29.9	27.8	27.8	27.5	27.1	25.2	26.0
Former	N/A	19.9	20.9	23.0	22.8	23.7	25.1	24.7	26.2	26.8	24.7	24.8	25.3	24.0	25.2	24.4	23.9	23.9
Never	N/A	40.8	40.4	40.0	41.8	41.4	41.5	42.5	43.7	44.1	45.9	45.3	46.9	48.2	47.3	48.6	50.9	50.2
13–15
Current	N/A	38.7	37.9	34.3	33.9	32.1	30.6	28.2	24.6	25.0	23.6	25.1	24.4	23.3	22.5	21.9	22.2	22.7
Former	N/A	22.1	24.1	26.9	24.9	25.1	27.5	26.1	27.5	28.2	27.1	26.0	25.7	25.5	26.2	25.6	25.4	24.5
Never	N/A	39.2	38.0	38.8	41.2	42.8	42.0	45.7	47.9	46.8	49.2	48.9	49.9	51.2	51.2	52.5	52.4	52.7
>=16
Current	N/A	28.8	28.8	24.2	24.5	20.6	19.0	16.6	13.9	13.5	14.0	11.6	11.5	11.3	10.4	10.6	10.4	8.5
Former	N/A	27.7	27.8	26.6	27.6	26.5	30.3	27.2	28.7	26.9	25.7	24.8	25.3	23.2	23.9	23.2	22.3	22.5
Never	N/A	43.5	43.4	49.2	47.9	52.9	50.7	56.2	57.4	59.5	60.3	63.6	63.2	65.5	65.7	66.2	67.3	69.0
Socioeconomic status
At/Above Poverty Level
Current	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	31.5	29.7	28.1	24.5	23.8	23.8	24.6	23.4	23.0	22.3	21.7	20.6	20.4
Former	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	22.8	25.4	24.1	25.9	26.2	24.7	24.0	23.9	22.9	23.6	22.7	22.6	22.3
Never	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	45.8	44.9	47.8	49.6	50.0	51.5	51.5	52.7	54.1	54.1	55.7	56.0	57.3
Below Poverty Level
Current	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	40.2	34.3	35.1	34.6	32.1	32.5	33.3	33.1	31.4	32.9	30.5	29.1	30.6
Former	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	12.2	15.8	13.4	14.3	14.0	14.8	15.5	13.6	13.5	15.1	12.6	14.8	13.6
Never	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	47.7	49.9	51.5	51.1	54.0	52.8	51.2	53.4	55.1	52.0	56.9	56.2	55.8
Unknown
Current	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	31.3	28.9	27.5	26.0	28.3	23.5	20.6	20.2	19.3	19.7	18.4	19.0	18.3
Former	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	21.1	23.0	21.3	21.6	20.2	19.0	22.6	23.9	22.9	22.3	22.7	20.5	20.3
Never	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	47.7	48.1	51.2	52.4	51.5	57.5	56.9	55.9	57.8	58.1	58.9	60.5	61.4

Footnotes

* Persons > = 18 years of age.

† Current smokers reported smoking > = 100 cigarettes and currently smoked. Former smokers reported smoking > = 100 cigarettes and did not currently smoke. Never smokers reported that they had smoked < 100 cigarettes.

§ Questions assessing race/ethnicity changed in 1997 and Asian/Pacific Islanders from 1997 through 2004 are limited to persons who reported their race as Chinese, Filipino, or Asian Indians.

¶ Data on education are presented for persons > = 25 years of age.

N/A Data not available.

Source:Source: National Health Interview Surveys: 1965, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1980, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001–2006.

Note: For any year, 95% confidence intervales do not exceed ±1.2% for the total population, ±1.8% for men, ±1.4% for women, ±3.9% for whites, ±4.7% for blacks, ±4.7% for Hispanics, ±7.8% for Asian/Pacific Islanders, ±14.8% for American Indian/Alaska Natives, ±2.7% for persons ages 18–24 years, ±1.8% for person ages 25–44 years, ±2.5% for persons ages 45–64 years, ±2.1% for persons ages >= 65 years, ±3.3% for < 8 years of education, ±2.8% for 9–11 years of education, ±1.9% for 12 years of education, ±3.1% for 13–15 years of education, ±2.9% for >= 16 years of educations, ±1.0% for persons at or above the poverty level, ±2.7% for persons below the poverty level, and ±3.5% for persons with unknown poverty level.