Alcohol, tobacco & other drugs in Australia

Explore the interactive visualisations that allow you to compare data across the 38 Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries with available data for the following indicators of health risk factors:

• daily smoking
• number of cigarettes per person who smokes per day
• litres per capita of pure alcohol available for consumption.

Daily smoking

In 2022, or the nearest year, Australia had the 5th lowest proportion of people smoking daily among people aged 15 and over (8.5%). This was lower than the OECD average of *15.7%. The proportions of both females and males who smoke daily were also below the OECD average.

*The most recent year of available data varies among countries. This should be considered when interpreting the data.

Figure: Proportion of population aged 15 and over who smoke daily, by sex, OECD countries, 2022 or nearest year

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Number of cigarettes per person who smokes per day

In 2022, or the nearest year, Australia was slightly higher than the OECD average for number of cigarettes smoked per day. In Australia people aged 15 and over who smoked tobacco smoked an average of 13.1 cigarettes per day, while the OECD average was *12.9 cigarettes per day. 

*The most recent year of available data varies among countries. This should be considered when interpreting the data.

Figure: Number of cigarettes per person who smokes per day, total population aged 15 and over, OECD countries, 2022 or nearest year

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Litres per capita of pure alcohol

In 2019–20, there was 10.1 litres of pure alcohol available for consumption per person aged 15 years and over in Australia according to the Apparent Consumption of Alcohol report. This was higher than the OECD average (*8.6 litres). It should be noted the OECD report has not yet been updated with the latest available Australian data.

*The most recent year of available data varies among countries. This should be considered when interpreting the data.

Figure: Alcohol consumption in litres per capita, total population aged 15 and over, OECD countries, 2022 or nearest year

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