Smoking Rates Reach New Low in the U.S.

NEW YORK — According to new government survey data, the rate of cigarette smoking among U.S. adults has decreased to an all-time low. Now, only about 1 in 11 adults identify as current smokers.

Cigarette smoking significantly increases the risk of various health issues, including lung cancer, heart disease, and strokes. It’s been recognized as the leading cause of preventable deaths for quite some time.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released preliminary findings based on responses from over 24,200 adults. For this survey, current cigarette smoking is defined as having smoked at least 100 cigarettes in one’s lifetime and continuing to smoke every day or on some days.

To give some context, back in the mid-1960s, a staggering 42% of U.S. adults were smokers. Various factors, such as increased cigarette taxes, rising prices, public smoking bans, educational campaigns, and shifts in public acceptance, have contributed to the long-term decline in smoking rates.

In a significant milestone, the percentage of current adult smokers dropped below 10% for the first time in 2024, resting at 9% according to recent data.

While the use of electronic cigarettes among adults has been slowly rising, it has remained fairly stable in 2025, hovering around 7%.

Yolonda Richardson, president and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, remarked on the continued decline in smoking, calling it a monumental public health achievement that has saved millions of lives and billions in healthcare costs.

However, Richardson noted that current smoking-prevention efforts have faced setbacks due to funding cuts during the Trump administration, which affected the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health and eliminated the impactful “Tips from Former Smokers” ad campaign.

She pointed out that the “Tips” campaign alone assisted over a million Americans in quitting smoking and generated savings of more than $7.3 billion in healthcare costs.

Richardson emphasized the importance of restoring and maintaining these critical initiatives to continue addressing smoking-related health issues and associated costs on a national level.