Tobacco smoking in Australia

Smoking rates in Australia are now the lowest ever recorded.

Among people aged 14 and older, daily smoking declined significantly between 2010 and 2013, from 15.1% to 12.8% (Figure TU1), and the number of people smoking daily fell by approximately 200,000 from 2.7 million in 2010 down to 2.5 million in 2013.

More males than females smoked daily (14.5% compared to 11.2%) but daily smoking declined for both males and females between 2010 and 2013.

The proportion of daily smokers has almost halved since 1991 (24.3% in 1991 and 12.8% in 2013), and has declined to the lowest levels seen over the 22-year period. There has been a corresponding rise in the proportion people aged over 14 or older who have never smoked from 49% in 1991 to 60% in 2013.

One-quarter (24%) of the population were ex-smokers in 2013 and this has remained fairly stable since 1998.

Figure TU1: Tobacco smoking status, people aged 14 or older, 1991–2013 (per cent)

1. Smoked at least 100 cigarettes (manufactured and/or roll-your-own) or the equivalent amount of tobacco in their life, and reports no longer smoking.
2. Never smoked 100 cigarettes (manufactured and/or roll-your-own) or the equivalent amount of tobacco.

Source: Online Table 3.1.

Age comparisons over time

While there has been a steady decline in daily smoking over the past 12 years, there is a large variation in the decline by age. People aged 18–49 were far less likely to smoke daily than they were 12 years ago; however there has been little change in daily smoking among people aged 60 or older (Figure TU2).

Figure TU2: Daily smokers, people aged 12 or older, by age, 2001 to 2013 (per cent)

Source: Online Table 3.4

Note: The 2001 survey did not include those aged 12–13; the 2001 total for people aged 12 or older is for people aged 14 or older.

Age first smoked

The average age at which young people aged 14–24 smoked their first full cigarette has steadily risen since 1995—from 14.2 years in 1995 to 15.9 years in 2013—indicating a delay in the uptake of smoking. This is a positive trend, as early tobacco use among young people is a key predictor of adult smoking [1].

More about tobacco smoking by age and sex

Number of cigarettes smoked

Progress towards quitting smoking often involves reducing the number of cigarettes smoked each day. In 2013:

• the average number of cigarettes smoked per week declined from 111 in 2010 to 96 cigarettes in 2013 (Figure TU3)
• the decrease in cigarettes smoked per week was significant for people aged 30–69
• the largest fall was seen among people aged 40–49 who, on average, smoked 23 fewer cigarettes per week.

The number of cigarettes smoked per week varied by age groups. Smokers aged 50–69 remained the most likely to smoke the largest number of cigarettes per week (about 120), 60% higher than those in their 20s (about 75).

A heavy smoker smokes 20 or more cigarettes per day. In 2013, 3 in 10 (33%) smokers were heavy smokers and this was highest among those is their 50s and 60s—more than 4 in 10 (44%) smoked 20 or more per day (Figure TU3).

Figure TU3: Average number of cigarettes smoked per week, by age, 2010 and 2013

Source: Online tables 3.7 and 3.8.

Access tobacco smoking data

References

1. Tyas S & Pederson L 1998. Psychosocial factors related to adolescent smoking: A critical review of the literature. Tobacco Control 7:409–42.