Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States, accounting for more than 480,000 deaths every year, or about 1 in 5 deaths.1
In 2021, nearly 12 of every 100 U.S. adults aged 18 years or older (11.5%) currently* smoked cigarettes. This means an estimated 28.3 million adults in the United States currently smoke cigarettes.2 More than 16 million Americans live with a smoking-related disease.1
Current smoking has declined from 20.9% (nearly 21 of every 100 adults) in 2005 to 11.5% (nearly 12 of every 100 adults) in 2021.1,2
*Current smokers are defined as people who reported smoking at least 100 cigarettes during their lifetime and who, at the time they participated in a survey about this topic, reported smoking every day or some days.
Current Smoking Among Adults in 2021 (Nation)
By Sex2
Current cigarette smoking was higher among men than women.
About 13 of every 100 adult men (13.1%)
About 10 of every 100 adult women (10.1%)
By Age2
Current cigarette smoking was highest among people aged 25?44 years and 45?64 years. Current cigarette smoking was lowest among people aged 18-24 years.
About 5 of every 100 adults aged 18?24 years (5.3%)
Nearly 13 of every 100 adults aged 25?44 years (12.6%)
Nearly 15 of every 100 adults aged 45?64 years (14.9%)
About 8 of every 100 adults aged 65 years and older (8.3%)
By Race/Ethnicity2
Current cigarette smoking was highest among non-Hispanic adults from other racial groups and lowest among non-Hispanic Asian adults.
Nearly 15 of every 100 non-Hispanic adults from other racial groups* (14.9%)
Nearly 13 of every 100 non-Hispanic White adults (12.9%)
Nearly 12 of every 100 non-Hispanic Black adults (11.7%)
Nearly 8 of every 100 Hispanic adults (7.7%)
About 5 of every 100 non-Hispanic Asian adults** (5.4%)
2021 tobacco product estimates for American Indian/Alaska Native adults were not statistically reliable
* Non-Hispanic Other includes adults who were categorized as “non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native and any other group” or “other single and multiple races”.
**Non-Hispanic Asians does not include Native Hawaiians or Other Pacific Islanders.
By Education2
Current cigarette smoking was highest among people with a general education development (GED) certificate and lowest among those with a graduate degree.***
Nearly 31 of every 100 adults with a GED certificate (30.7%)
About 20 of every 100 adults with some high school (no degree) (20.1%)
About 17 of every 100 adults with a high school diploma (17.1%)
About 16 of every 100 adults with some college (no degree) (16.1%)
Nearly 14 of every 100 adults with an Associate degree (13.7%)
About 5 of every 100 adults with an undergraduate degree (5.3%)
About 3 of every 100 adults with a graduate degree (3.2%)
***Education estimates are limited to adults 25 years or older.
By Annual Household Income2
Current cigarette smoking was higher among people with a lower annual household income than those with higher annual household incomes.
About 18 of every 100 adults with low income (18.3%)
About 12 of every 100 adults with middle income (12.3%)
Nearly 7 of every 100 adults with high income (6.7%)