Percentage of adult* ever smokers who are former smokers†, overall and by sex, race/ethnicity, age, and education

National Health Interview Surveys, Selected Years—United States, 1965–2006

	1965	1970	1974	1978	1980	1983	1985	1987	1990	1993	1995	1997	1999	2001	2002	2003	2004	2006
Total
	24.3	33.1	34.5	37.9	39	40.4	44.5	44.3	49.1	49.6	48.6	48.0	49.5	49.2	50.1	50.3	50.6	50.2
Sex
Male	27.6	37.4	39.2	42.7	42.8	44.6	48.7	48	51.6	51.9	50.5	49.4	51.5	51.2	51.2	51.2	51.4	50.6
Female	19.1	26.9	28.3	31.6	34	35.1	39.4	39.6	46.0	46.7	46.2	46.3	47.2	46.9	48.8	49.3	49.7	49.8
Race
White	25.2	34.3	36.1	39.5	40.8	42.0	46.6	46.2	50.9	51.6	50.5	50.4	51.5	51.0	51.8	52.4	52.7	52.8
Black	15.5	20.6	19.4	26.2	27.5	28.0	31.3	31.1	39.0	37.8	36.1	33.6	39.2	39.3	40.9	40.0	39.2	35.4
Hispanic	N/A	N/A	N/A	33.0	33.5	38.4	39.9	40.5	42.5	44.3	47.3	42.3	44.9	46.2	47.4	44.0	46.9	45.5
Asian Pacific Islanders	N/A	N/A	N/A	36.6	38.9	41.5	36.6	42.6	46.8	46.1	45.5	46.9	43.9	43.6	46.9	54.2	51.6	51.5
American Indian/ Alaskan	N/A	N/A	N/A	33.4	25.8	36.3	39.0	39.0	35.1	35.1	35.1	39.7	29.2	38.6	33.6	26.5	38.8	44.1
Age (years)
18–24	13.1	19.6	20.2	21.1	23.9	21.3	25.7	22.8	28.0	21.7	25.8	20.2	21.4	22.4	20.9	22.8	22.9	19.8
25–44	21.0	29.7	29.2	33.2	34.3	34.4	38.1	37.2	40.3	39.0	38.0	35.8	36.1	35.9	36.9	35.7	36.0	36.7
45–64	27.9	36.0	39.7	41.6	42.8	46.3	49.7	49.2	55.0	56.6	54.8	56.1	57.1	55.2	56.4	56.0	55.5	55.2
>=65	45.5	56.9	57.5	63.4	61.8	64.8	68.1	69.2	74.1	76.6	74.4	76.2	79.3	79.5	81.4	81.5	81.7	78.8
Education¶
<8	N/A	36.1	37.7	43.9	44.7	45.6	51.1	48.7	52.7	57.1	52.6	52.4	59.0	57.3	55.7	56.3	58.8	55.0
9–12	N/A	29.6	30.6	30.1	31.5	35.1	37.5	36.8	41.2	42.2	40.5	42.6	40.3	42.7	42.4	41.0	40.9	41.3
12	N/A	33.6	35.0	38.3	39.2	40.4	42.9	42.9	46.5	47.9	45.6	45.4	47.7	46.4	47.9	47.4	48.7	47.9
13–15	N/A	36.4	38.9	44.0	42.4	43.9	47.4	48.0	52.8	53.0	53.4	50.9	51.3	52.3	53.8	53.9	53.4	51.9
>=16	N/A	49.1	49.1	52.4	52.9	56.2	61.5	62.1	67.3	66.6	64.7	68.1	68.8	67.3	69.8	68.7	68.3	72.5
Socioeconomic status
At/ Above Poverty Level	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	41.95	46.13	46.15	51.4	52.4	50.9	49.4	50.5	49.9	51.5	51.2	52.3	52.2
Below poverty level	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	23.21	31.53	27.66	29.2	30.4	31.3	31.8	29.1	30.1	31.5	29.2	33.7	30.9
Unknown	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	40.24	44.27	43.67	45.5	41.6	44.7	52.3	54.3	54.2	53.1	55.3	51.9	52.6

Footnotes

* Persons > = 18 years of age.

† Current smokers reported smoking > = 100 cigarettes and currently smoked. Former smokers reported smoking > = 100 cigarettes and did not currently smoke. Never smokers reported that they had smoked < 100 cigarettes.

¶ Data on education are presented for persons > = 25 years of age

N/A Data not available.

Source: National Health Interview Surveys: 1965, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1980, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006.

Note: For any year, 95% confidence intervals do not exceed ±1.6% for the total population, ±2.8% for men, ±2.2% for women, ±1.7% for whites, ±4.3% for blacks, ±6.3% for Hispanics, ±15.0% for Asian/Pacific Islanders, ±16.6% for American Indian/Alaska Natives, ±4.2% for person ages 18-24 years, ±2.3% for person ages 25–44 years, ±2.4% for person ages 45–64 years, ±4.0% for persons ages ≥65 years, ±4.1% for <12 years of education, ±2.6% for 12 years of education, ±4.1% for 13–15 years of education, and ±3.9% for ≥16 years of education, ±1.5% for persons at or above the poverty level, ±4.0% for persons below the poverty level, and ±4.8% for persons with unknown poverty level.