Smoking Prevalence Among U.S. Adults

In 1994, 48 million adults 18 years of age and older (25.3 million men, 22.7 million women) were current smokers in the United States. Smoking among adults decreased dramatically from 42% in 1965 to 26% in 1994. During this period, smoking among the adult male population declined from 52% to 28%; adult female smoking declined from 34% to 23%.

Percentage of Smoking Prevalence Among U.S. Adults, 18 Years of Age and Older, 1955-1994 (1)
Year Overall
Population		 Males Females Whites Blacks
1955 ---- 56.9 28.4 ---- ----
1965 42.4 51.9 33.9 42.1 45.8
1966 42.6 52.5 33.9 42.4 45.9
1970 37.4 44.1 31.5 37.0 41.4
1974 37.1 43.1 32.1 36.4 44.0
1978 34.1 38.1 30.7 33.9 37.7
1979 33.5 37.5 29.9 33.3 36.9
1980 33.2 37.6 29.3 32.9 36.9
1983 32.1 35.1 29.5 31.8 35.9
1985 30.1 32.6 27.9 29.6 34.9
1987 28.8 31.2 26.5 28.5 32.9
1988 28.1 30.8 25.7 27.8 31.7
1990 25.5 28.4 22.8 25.6 26.2
1991 25.7 28.1 23.5 25.5 29.1
1992* 26.5 28.6 24.6 26.6 27.8
1993 25.0 27.7 22.5 24.9 26.1
1994 25.5 28.2 23.1 26.3 27.2
*Estimates since 1992 incorporate some-day smokers.(2)

 

References

  1. Data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office on Smoking and Health, from the Current Population Survey, 1955, and the National Health Interview Surveys, 1965-1994.
  2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cigarette smoking among adults---United States, 1994. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 1996;45(27):588-590.

Office on Smoking and Health
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
July 1996