Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports (MMWRs)

State-Specific Prevalence of Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults and Secondhand Smoke Rules and Policies in Homes and Workplaces—United States, 2005

In 2005, adult current smoking prevalence varied considerably across 50 states, the District of Columbia (DC), Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). For the states and the District of Columbia, prevalence ranged from 11.5 percent (Utah) to 28.7 percent (Kentucky).
Smoking prevalence was 8.3 percent in the USVI and 13.1 percent in Puerto Rico.
Kentucky (28.7 percent), Indiana (27.3 percent), and Tennessee (26.8 percent) had the highest prevalence of current smokers. Smoking prevalence was lowest in Utah (11.5 percent), California (15.2 percent), and Connecticut (16.5 percent).
Women in Puerto Rico achieved the Healthy People 2010 goal for the first time in 2005. Men in Utah met the goal in 2004 (11.7%) but not in 2005 (13.7%).
In 2005, Utah and USVI; women in Utah, California, and USVI; and men in USVI continued to meet the Healthy People 2010 objective for reducing adult smoking prevalence, as they did in 2004.
The present rate of decline in current smoking rates is not fast enough for most states to achieve the Healthy People 2010 objective of ≤12%.

In 2005, the prevalence of smoke-free home rules (63.6% to 82.9%) and smoke-free workplace policies (54.8% to 85.8%) varied widely among 14 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In 2005, there were more complete smoke-free policies in work areas (76.2%-92.2%) than in public areas (67.9%–88.1%) of their workplace.
The median percentage of persons who reported that smoking is not allowed anywhere inside their homes (i.e., complete smoke-free home) was 73.7 percent.
The median percentage of persons who worked mostly indoors and reported that smoking is not allowed in any indoor public areas or work areas within their workplaces (i.e., complete smoke-free workplace policy) was 73.4%.
The states with the highest percentages of smoke-free home rules were Arizona (82.9%) and Nevada (79.0%); Kentucky (63.6%) and West Virginia (65.4%) had the lowest percentages.
The states with the highest percentage of smoke-free workplace policies were West Virginia (85.8%) and Iowa (77.7%); Nevada (54.8%) and Arkansas (61.3%) had the lowest percentages.

Page last reviewed 02/28/2007
Page last modified 02/28/2007