Cigarette Smoking Comparisons and Disparities

Cigarette smoking rates are not equal across demographic groups. This pages describes current cigarette smoking rates by sex, age, race/ethnicity, education, income, sexual identity, health insurance coverage, rural versus urban residency, and dual use of cigarettes and electronic cigarettes among adults.

Smoking Rates by Sex

Created with Highcharts 10.2.1SexCurrent SmokingChart context menuMen are significantly more likely to smoke than womenAmerican Lung Association analysis of CDC data: NHIS 2018.MaleFemale0%5%10%15%20%
15.6%
12.0%

Smoking Rates by Age

Created with Highcharts 10.2.1AgeCurrent SmokingChart context menuSmoking rates increase with age until around middle age, then decreaseAmerican Lung Association analysis of CDC data: NHIS 2018.18-2425-4445-6465+0%5%10%15%20%
7.8%
16.5%
16.3%
8.4%

Smoking Rates by Race/Ethnicity

Created with Highcharts 10.2.1Race/EthnicityCurrent SmokingChart context menuSmoking rates are highest among American Indian/Alaska Natives and lowest among AsiansAmerican Lung Association analysis of CDC data: NHIS 2018.WhiteBlackAmerican Indian/Alaska NativeAsianHispanic0%5%10%15%20%25%30%
15.0%
14.6%
25.9%
7.4%
9.8%

Menthol Brand Preference among Current Smokers

Created with Highcharts 10.2.1Chart context menuMore than three-quarters of Black current smokers report that their usual cigarette brand is menthol, more than twice the nexthighest rateAmerican Lung Association analysis of CDC data: NHIS 2015.WhiteBlackAmerican Indian/Alaska NativeAsianHispanicTotal0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%65%70%75%80%85%
23.0%
77.4%
21.8%
25.7%
35.0%
31.5%

Smoking Rates by Education

Created with Highcharts 10.2.1EducationCurrent SmokingChart context menuSmoking rates are highest for those with less than a high school education, or a high school diploma or GEDAmerican Lung Association analysis of CDC data: NHIS 2018.Less than HSHS or GEDSome collegeBA or higher0%5%10%15%20%25%
20.3%
20.3%
14.9%
5.6%

Smoking Rates by Income

Created with Highcharts 10.2.1Ratio of Family Income to the Poverty ThresholdCurrent SmokingChart context menuSmoking rates are highest for those with a family income below the poverty thresholdAmerican Lung Association analysis of CDC data: NHIS 2018.<11-22+0%5%10%15%20%25%
22.6%
19.4%
11.2%

Based on 2014 poverty thresholds from the Census Bureau, which depend on size and age composition of family.

Smoking Rates by Sexual Identity

Created with Highcharts 10.2.1Current SmokingChart context menuSmoking rates are higher among gay, lesbian, or bisexual individuals of both sexes compared to straight individualsAmerican Lung Association analysis of CDC data: NHIS 2018.MaleFemale0%5%10%15%20%25%
15.6%
11.6%
16.6%
23.8%

Smoking Rates by Health Insurance Coverage

Created with Highcharts 10.2.1Insurance Coverage Among Adults Ages 18-65Current SmokingChart context menuThose on Medicaid and who are uninsured smoke at over twice the rate as those with private health insuranceAmerican Lung Association analysis of CDC data: NHIS 2018.PrivateUninsuredMedicaid0%5%10%15%20%25%30%
11.1%
24.0%
25.5%

Smoking Rates by Urban vs Rural Residency

Created with Highcharts 10.2.1Current SmokingChart context menuSmoking rates are higher among rural than urban residentsAmerican Lung Association analysis of CDC data: BRFSS 2018.UrbanRural0%5%10%15%20%
12.4%
17.3%

Dual Use of Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes by Adults

Current smokers have the highest rates of ever (40%) and current (10%) use of e-cigarettes, followed by former smokers (13% ever, 6% current), with the lowest e-cigarette rates (5% ever, 1% current) among never smokers.

Created with Highcharts 10.2.1Chart context menuRate of E-cigarette Use by Cigarette Use, 2018American Lung Association analysis of CDC data: NHIS 2018.10% are current e-cig users10% are current e-cig users6% are current e-cig users6% are current e-cig users1% are current e-cig users1% are current e-cig users3% are current e-cig users3% are current e-cig users40% have ever used e-cigs40% have ever used e-cigs13% have ever used e-cigs13% have ever used e-cigs5% have ever used e-cigs5% have ever used e-cigs12% have ever used e-cigs12% have ever used e-cigs51% have never used e-cigs51% have never used e-cigs82% have never used e-cigs82% have never used e-cigs94% have never used e-cigs94% have never used e-cigs85% have never used e-cigs85% have never used e-cigsCurrent SmokersFormer SmokersNever SmokersTotal0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%65%70%75%80%85%90%95%100%10…

Among current users of e-cigarettes, 41 percent also currently smoke, and 38 percent formerly smoked.

Created with Highcharts 10.2.1Chart context menuRate of Cigarette Use by E-Cigarette Use, 2018American Lung Association analysis of CDC data: NHIS 2018.41% are current smokers41% are current smokers47% are current smokers47% are current smokers8% are current smokers8% are current smokers14% are current smokers14% are current smokers38% are former smokers38% are former smokers24% are former smokers24% are former smokers21% are former smokers21% are former smokers22% are former smokers22% are former smokers21% are never smokers21% are never smokers30% are never smokers30% are never smokers71% are never smokers71% are never smokers64% are never smokers64% are never smokersCurrentEverNeverTotal0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%65%70%75%
 

Page last updated: April 17, 2024

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