Adult Cigarette Smoking in the United States: Current Estimate

Overview

• An estimated 45.3 million people, or 19.3% of all adults (aged 18 years or older), in the United States smoke cigarettes.¹ Cigarette smoking is more common among men (21.5%) than women (17.3%).¹
• Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States,² accounting for approximately 443,000 deaths, or 1 of every 5 deaths, in the United States each year.^3,4

National Estimates

Percentage of adults who were current* smokers in 2010¹

By Gender

• 21.5% of adult men
• 17.3% of adult women

By Age

• 20.1% of adults aged 18–24 years
• 22.0% of adults aged 25–44 years
• 21.1% of adults aged 45–64 years
•  9.5%  of adults aged 65 years and older

By Race/Ethnicity

• 31.4% of American Indians/Alaska Natives (non-Hispanic)
•  9.2%  of Asians (non-Hispanic; excludes Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders)
• 20.6% of blacks (non-Hispanic)
• 12.5% of Hispanics
• 21.0% of whites (non-Hispanic)

By Education

• 45.2% of adults with a GED diploma
• 33.8% of adults with 9–11 years of education
• 23.8% of adults with a high school diploma
•  9.9%  of adults with an undergraduate college degree
•  6.3%  of adults with a postgraduate college degree

By Poverty Status

• 28.9% of adults who live below the poverty level
• 18.3% of adults who live at or above the poverty level

State Estimates

• By state, in 2010, smoking prevalence ranged from 9.1% in Utah to 26.8% in West Virginia.¹
• By region, in 2010, smoking prevalence was highest in the Midwest (21.8%) and South (21.0%) and lowest in the West (15.9%).¹
• Overall, in 2010, states with the highest prevalence of adult smoking were clustered in the Midwest and Southeast (see CDC Vital Signs map for more information).¹

Notes:
-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.

-Poverty thresholds published by the U.S. Census Bureau.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vital Signs: Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults Aged ≥ 18 Years—United States, 2005–2010. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2011;60(33):1207–12 [accessed 2012 Jan 24].
2. 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 2012 Jan 24].
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Annual Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Years of Potential Life Lost, and Productivity Losses—United States, 2000–2004. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 2008;57(45):1226–8 [accessed 2012 Jan 24].
4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Health Consequences of Smoking: A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2004 [accessed 2012 Jan 24].

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.