Ruqayyah Snyder
Smoking is a major cause of preventable disease, illness, and death in Australia. The country has seen a significant decrease in smoking rates over the past few decades, with the daily smoking rate dropping from 24.3% in 1991 to 11% in 2019. The latest data from 2021-2022 shows that the daily smoking rate has further decreased to 10.1%. While the use of tobacco products remains prevalent, the rise in popularity of vaping and e-cigarettes has led to an increase in the use of these alternative smoking methods among Australians. This text will explore the percentage of the Australian population that smokes and analyze the trends and factors influencing smoking prevalence in the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year-wise percentage of daily smokers | 1991: 24.3% or 24% |
| 1995: 23.8% | |
| 2001: 22.4% | |
| 2019: 11% | |
| 2021-22: 10.1% | |
| Percentage of men and women smokers | Men: 12.6% |
| Women: 8.7% | |
| Age-wise percentage of smokers | 18-44 years: 10.1% in 2021-22 |
| 45 years and over: 10% in 2021-22 | |
| 55-64 years: 13.6% | |
| 75 years and over: 3% | |
| Percentage of smokers in Northern Territory | 21% in 2014-15 |
| Percentage of underage smokers | Lowest ever recorded in 2017 |
| Percentage of vape users | 3.5% in 2023 |
| Percentage of cannabis users | 11.5% in 2023 |
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What You'll Learn
Smoking rates among men and women
Smoking is one of the largest preventable causes of death and disease in Australia. It is estimated that smoking kills almost 20,500 Australians a year, accounting for 13% of all deaths. The proportion of the population who smoke daily has been declining since 1991, when 24.3% of the population smoked daily. In 2015, the most common form of tobacco smoked in Australia was found to be factory-made cigarettes.
In 2021-22, 10.1% of the overall Australian population were current daily smokers. This figure has decreased from 16.1% in 2011-12. Men were more likely to be current daily smokers than women (12.0% compared to 8.2%). The proportion of current daily smokers increased with age, peaking at 13.6% among those aged 55-64 years. Adults over 75 years were the least likely to be current daily smokers (3.0%).
Among young adults aged 18-24 years, the proportion of current daily smokers has halved since 2011-12, decreasing from 16.5% to 7.1% in 2021-22. This age group was also more likely to have never smoked than any other adult age group, with 79% reporting that they had never smoked in 2022. The average age at which young people aged 14-24 years had their first full cigarette decreased from 16.6 years in 2019 to 16.3 years in 2022-23.
While the use of tobacco cigarettes has declined, the use of e-cigarettes or vapes has been increasing in Australia. The proportion of the population who used a vape daily rose from 0.5% in 2016 to 3.5% in 2023, with 7% considering themselves current users.
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Smoking rates by age group
Smoking rates have been declining in Australia since 1991. In 1991, 24.3% of the population smoked daily, which decreased to 23.8% in 1995 and 22.4% in 2001. The daily smoking rate further decreased to 16.1% in 2011-12 and 14.5% in 2014-15. The latest data from 2021-22 shows that 10.1% of Australians are current daily smokers. The average age of current daily smokers has increased from 42 years old in 2011-12 to 46 years old in 2021-22.
Men have consistently shown a higher tendency to smoke daily than women. In 2014-15, 16.9% of men and 12.1% of women smoked daily, down from 18.3% and 14.1%, respectively, in 2014-15. In 2016, the smoking percentage of men was 16%, while the smoking percentage of women was 12%.
Daily smoking rates vary across age groups. In 2021-22, the proportion of current daily smokers gradually increased with age until the 55-64 age group, where it peaked at 13.6%. Older adults aged 75 years and above were the least likely to be current daily smokers (3.0%). The proportion of people aged 18-44 years who were current daily smokers decreased from 18.5% in 2011-12 to 10.1% in 2021-22. For those aged 45 years and over, the proportion of current daily smokers decreased from 13.8% to 10.0% during the same period.
Smoking rates among young adults and teenagers are also worth noting. In 1996, 35% of males and 40% of females aged 12-17 smoked in the past week, mainly obtaining cigarettes from friends. Among those aged 16-17, the primary source of cigarettes was purchasing them illegally in stores. In 2017-18, around 17.5% of men aged 18-24 years smoked daily.
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Smoking rates by state
Australia has witnessed a significant decline in its smoking rates over the past few decades. The rate of daily smokers in the country was approximately 11% in 2019, a notable decrease from around 25% of the population in 1991. This rate is among the lowest within the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries. The decline in smoking rates in Australia can be attributed to various factors, including the implementation of strict anti-smoking laws, plain packaging regulations, and high tobacco taxes.
While the overall smoking rate in Australia has decreased, there are variations within different demographic groups and states. According to a study conducted between 2017 and 2019, certain population subgroups exhibit higher smoking rates. Men, for instance, accounted for an estimated 58.8% of daily smokers. Additionally, 61.3% of daily smokers were between 25 and 54 years old, and 65.4% resided in major cities. The study also revealed that smoking was more prevalent among socio-economically disadvantaged groups, with 54.3% of daily smokers belonging to the two most disadvantaged quintiles.
Indigenous Australians, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, have higher smoking rates due to factors such as colonisation, racism, and structural disadvantage. In the 2017-2019 study, it was found that out of the daily smokers, 92% were non-Indigenous, while 8% were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Although specific state-level data for smoking rates was not readily available, the impact of socio-economic status and remoteness on smoking prevalence can be used to infer differences between states. Areas with greater remoteness and lower socio-economic status tend to have higher smoking rates. This suggests that states with a higher proportion of remote or rural areas and lower socio-economic indicators may have higher smoking rates compared to more urbanised and affluent states.
Furthermore, the survey data from 2021 to 2022 revealed that people in areas of most disadvantage were more likely to be current daily smokers (16.1%) compared to those in areas of least disadvantage (5.3%). This indicates that states with a significant proportion of disadvantaged populations may exhibit higher smoking rates. However, more recent state-specific data is needed to confirm these inferences and provide a comprehensive understanding of smoking rates across Australia's states.
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Smoking rates by ethnicity
Smoking is one of the largest preventable causes of death in Australia, with tobacco smoking killing almost 20,500 Australians a year (13% of all deaths). The overall rate of daily smoking has been declining for a number of years, with the daily smoking percentage dropping from 24.3% in 1991 to 12% in 2021.
The Northern Territory has typically had the highest smoking rates within Australia, which is associated with the high percentage of Indigenous individuals living there. In 2014-15, the smoking prevalence of Indigenous Australians was 39%, and they are almost three times more likely to smoke when compared to non-Indigenous Australians. Since 1995, the Northern Territory has seen the largest decrease in daily smoking rates compared to other states, falling from 35.6% to 21% in 2014-15.
The daily smoking rate also varies by age and gender. The proportion of current daily smokers gradually increases with age until it peaks at 55-64 years, where it was 13.6% in 2021-22. Older adults over 75 are the least likely to be daily smokers (3%). Men are more likely to be daily smokers than women (12.0% compared to 8.2%), although both genders have seen a significant reduction in smoking prevalence since 1995, when the figures were 27.3% and 20.3% respectively.
The characteristics of adults who were most likely to be current daily smokers in 2021-22 were: born in Australia (11.1% compared to 8.1% for those born overseas), speaking English at home (10.6% compared to 6.9% for other languages), unemployed (18.6%), living in outer regional and remote Australia (15.7% compared to 8.9% in major cities), and reporting their health as fair or poor (17.2% compared to 6.4% for those reporting excellent or very good health).
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Smoking rates by employment status
Smoking rates have been declining in Australia since 1991, when 24.3% of the population smoked daily. In 2019, the rate of daily smokers was approximately 11%, representing a significant decrease. This rate is one of the lowest among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries.
The daily smoking percentage in the Northern Territory is typically the highest in Australia, which is likely due to the high percentage of Indigenous individuals living there. In 2014-15, the smoking prevalence among Indigenous Australians was 39%. However, the Northern Territory has seen the largest decrease in daily smoking rates since 1995, when 35.6% of people smoked daily, decreasing to 21% in 2014-15.
While smoking is more frequent among people living in socio-economically disadvantaged areas, a study by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in 2017-18 found that most daily smokers were in paid employment, non-Indigenous, in good physical and mental health, and had completed high school. This contradicts earlier studies, which found that smokers were largely unemployed.
The Australian government has implemented strict anti-smoking laws, such as banning smoking in all public enclosed spaces, indoor workplaces, and on public transport. The country has also introduced plain packaging laws and increased tobacco taxes to discourage smoking. These measures, along with the high cost of cigarettes in Australia, have likely contributed to the declining number of smokers in the country.
The National Tobacco Campaign, introduced in the late 1990s, has been successful in reducing smoking rates among young adults, although it has not had the same impact on adults. The National Preventive Health Strategy has set targets to reduce the prevalence of daily smoking to 5% or less of adult Australians by 2030.
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Frequently asked questions
The rate of daily smokers in Australia was approximately 11% in 2019, a significant decrease from around 24% in 1991. The daily smoking percentage has declined to single-digit rates as of 2023.
Men are more likely to smoke daily than women. In 2023, 12.6% of men and 8.7% of women smoked daily.
The proportion of current daily smokers increases with age until it peaks at 55-64 years, where it was 13.6% in 2021-22. Older adults over 75 years are the least likely to smoke daily at 3%.
