Facts & figures
Below you'll find just a small selection of smoking-related facts and figures. If you have any specific queries don't hesitate to contact the No Smoking Day press office.
- About 12 million adults in the UK smoke cigarettes - 25 per cent of men and 23 per cent of women.
- In 1974, 51 per cent of men and 41 per cent of women smoked cigarettes.
- Although smoking prevalence has fallen in recent years, this decline has been most marked amongst older age groups.
- Smoking prevalence is highest among those aged 20 to 24; 34 per cent of men and 30 per cent of women in this age group smoke.
- Among older age groups prevalence gradually declines; the lowest smoking rate is amongst people aged 60 and over. 14 per cent smoke in this age group.
- Men and women in routine and manual socio-economic group are much more likely to smoke than people in the professional group. 20 per cent of men and 17 per cent of women in the professional group smoke compared with 32 per cent of men and 30 per cent of women in routine and manual jobs.
- Quitting is a challenge, but millions of people successfully quit. 21 per cent of women and 27 per cent of men are ex-smokers.
- No Smoking Day research shows that around three in every four current smokers would like to give up altogether.
- Every year, around 114,000 smokers in the UK die as a result of their addiction
- Smoking kills around six times more people in the UK than road traffic accidents (3,439), other accidents (8,579), poisoning and overdose (881), alcoholic liver disease (5,121), murder and manslaughter (513), and suicide (4,066), combined (22,599 in total)*.
- Smoking causes 30 per cent of all cancer deaths (including at least 84 per cent of lung cancer deaths), 17 per cent of all heart disease deaths and at least 80 per cent of deaths from bronchitis and emphysema. Stopping smoking reduces this excess risk; stopping before age 35 can reduce a smoker's health risks to the same as those of a lifelong non-smoker.
* 2002 figures.