In 2019, 15.8% of people in Great Britain smoked cigarettes:
17.9% of men and 13.8% of women were regular smokers.
The proportion of adults who have never smoked cigarettes has
increased over time, from 25% of men and 49% of women in 1974
to 56% and 64% respectively in 2019.
Smoking prevalence in 2019 was higher in Northern Ireland
(15.6%) than in other constituent countries of Great Britain.
The English region of Yorkshire and the Humber has the
highest prevalence (15.7%)
In England, in 2018, 2% of school children aged 11-15 smoked
at least once a week and in Scotland 2% of 13 year olds and
7% of 15 year olds did so.
An estimated 5.7% of those aged 16 and over in Great Britain
were e-cigarette users in 2019.
In 2017/18, 16% of all deaths in people aged 35 or over in
England – 77,800 deaths – were estimated as being
attributable to smoking, while it was estimated to be the
cause of around 9,360 deaths per year in Scotland.
In 2017/18 an estimated 444,000 hospital admissions in
England were directly attributable to smoking, representing
4% of all hospital admissions.
