Adults who smoke daily

KPI 12: Proportion of people aged 18 years and older who smoke every day

Tobacco smoking is the single most important preventable cause of ill health and death in Australia. People who smoke are at higher risk of gum disease, tooth loss and oral cancer (DHSV 2011).

In 2017–18, 14% of adults aged 18 years and over smoked daily. Adults aged 45–54 were more likely to smoke daily than adults aged 18–24, 17% compared to 14%.

After adjusting for age, the proportion of daily smokers has remained stable between 2014–15 and 2017–18, at 15% and 14% respectively.

Explore the data using the interactive below:

KPI 12 Interactive 1: Proportion of adults aged 18 years and over who smoke every day

This figure shows the proportion of adults aged 18 years and over who smoke every day. National, state and territory data is presented for 2014-15 and 2017-18. In Australia, the age-standardised proportion of adults aged 18 years and over who smoke every day was 14% in 2017–18.

KPI 12 Interactive 2: Proportion of adults aged 18 years and over who smoke every day

This figure shows the age-standardised proportion of adults aged 18 years and over who smoke every day in Australia, by sex, in 2014-15 and 2017-18. In 2017–18, more males (17%) than females (11%) smoked every day.

KPI 12 Interactive 3: Proportion of adults aged 18 years and over who smoke every day

This figure shows the proportion of adults aged 18 years and over who smoke every day in Australia, by age groups and sex. In 2017-18, more females aged 45–54 years smoked every day than females aged 18–24 years, 15% and 10% respectively.

Data tables available for download.

More information about smoking.

References:
ABS 2018. National Health Survey: first results, 2017–18. ABS cat. No. 4364.0.55.001. Canberra: ABS

ABS Microdata: National Health Survey; 2014–15, 2017–18. Findings based on detailed micr odata analysis. Canberra: ABS

DHSV (Dental Health Services Victoria) 2011. Links between oral health and general health - the case for action: Dental Health Services Victoria.