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ASPE US Department of Health & Human Services

Health System Measurement Project

Percentage of U.S. Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes

Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of U.S. death, disease and disability. Each year, more than 440,000 people die and 8.6 million suffer from serious illnesses from smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke. In addition, tobacco use costs the U.S. $193 billion annually in direct medical expenses and lost productivity.

Data Source: National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) (Adults)

Metrics Calculation

Percentage (weighted population estimate) of adults who have smoked 100 cigarettes in their entire life and currently smoke cigarettes every day or some days. Based on (self-reported) answers to the following two questions: Have you smoked at least 100 cigarettes in your entire life? and, if yes: Do you now smoke cigarettes every day, some days or not at all?

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This measure appears in these topics

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National Summary

Coverage Overview

Coverage Public

Medicaid Coverage

Medicare Coverage

Coverage Private

Disability Status

Education Level

Metropolitan Status

Number of Chronic Conditions

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Percentage of U.S. Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes

Last updated 18 Apr 2012

Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

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Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

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Percentage of Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes by Coverage Overview

Last updated 18 Apr 2012

Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

1 2 3 4 Next Last

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Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

1 2 3 4 Next Last

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Percentage of Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes by Coverage Public

Last updated 18 Apr 2012

Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

1 2 3 Next Last

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Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

1 2 3 Next Last

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Percentage of Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes among those with Medicaid Coverage

In order to define coverage types, disability is defined as follows: Disability was defined according to the standard questions used in the American Community Survey. An individual was identified as having a disability if any of the following conditions existed: is deaf or has serious difficulty hearing; is blind or has serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses; has difficulty dressing or bathing; has serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions; has serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs; has difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor's office or shopping. Disability estimates are available for calendar years 2009 and later.

Last updated 18 Apr 2012

Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

1 2 3 Next Last

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Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

1 2 3 Next Last

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Percentage of Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes among those with Medicare Coverage

Last updated 18 Apr 2012

Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

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Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

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Percentage of Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes by Coverage Private

Last updated 18 Apr 2012

Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

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Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

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Percentage of Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes by Ethnicity

For more information on how ethnicity was defined, please see the Glossary under Help.

Last updated 18 Apr 2012

Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

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Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

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Percentage of Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes by Race

For more information on how race was defined, please see the Glossary under Help.

Last updated 18 Apr 2012

Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

1 2 3 4 Next Last

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Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

1 2 3 4 Next Last

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Percentage of Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes by Age Group

Last updated 18 Apr 2012

Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

1 2 3 Next Last

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Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

1 2 3 Next Last

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Percentage of Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes by Disability Status

Disability was defined according to the standard questions used in the American Community Survey. An individual was identified as having a disability if any of the following conditions existed: is deaf or has serious difficulty hearing; is blind or has serious difficulty seeing even when wearing glasses; has difficulty dressing or bathing; has serious difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions; has serious difficulty walking or climbing stairs; has difficulty doing errands alone such as visiting a doctor's office or shopping.

Last updated 18 Apr 2012

Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

Accessibly explore the data

Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

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Percentage of Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes by Education Level

Last updated 18 Apr 2012

Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

1 2 3 4 Next Last

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Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

1 2 3 4 Next Last

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Percentage of Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes by Income Level

Poverty is defined by Census Bureau poverty thresholds. For more information on the definition of poverty, please see the Glossary under Help.

Last updated 18 Apr 2012

Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

1 2 3 Next Last

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Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

1 2 3 Next Last

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Percentage of Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes by Metropolitan Status

For more information on how metropolitan status was defined, please see the Glossary under Help.

Last updated 18 Apr 2012

Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

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Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

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Percentage of Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes by Number of Chronic Conditions

For more information on how chronic conditions were defined, please see the Glossary under Help.

Last updated 18 Apr 2012

Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

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Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

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Percentage of Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes by Region

For more information on how regions are defined, please see the Glossary under Help.

Last updated 18 Apr 2012

Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

1 2 3 Next Last

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Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

1 2 3 Next Last

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Percentage of Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes by Sex

Last updated 18 Apr 2012

Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

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Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

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Percentage of Adults Who Smoke Cigarettes by State

Click on a state to see data from that state, a time trend graph for the selected state will appear below the map.

White coloring indicates that no data are available for that state.

State-level estimates (if applicable) meet the following criteria: less than or equal to 20% relative standard error and adequate sample size.

Last updated 18 Apr 2012

Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

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Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9...Next Last

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Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

Accessibly explore the data

Row number	Measure Value	Calendar Year
1	23.3%	2000
2	22.8%	2001
3	22.5%	2002
4	21.6%	2003
5	20.9%	2004
6	20.9%	2005
7	20.8%	2006
8	19.8%	2007
9	20.6%	2008
10	20.6%	2009
11	19.3%	2010
12	19%	2011

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Additional Information

Inclusion Criteria: Adults aged 18 years and over. Estimates for which the relative standard error is <=30%.

Exclusion Criteria: 1. Persons under age 18 years. 2. Adults 18 years and over with cigarette smoking status unknown. 3. Non-cigarette tobacco use. 4. For educational status: persons under age 25 years. 5. Estimates for which the relative standard error is > 30%.

Estimates may have been suppressed if there were additional concerns over statistical reliability.

This measure is calculated by CDC/ National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) with data from the National Health Interview Survey.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services — 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. — Washington, D.C. 20201