Number of daily smokers, men and women in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Number of daily smokers, men and women was 5.45 million in 2012. ▼ Falling
Latest (2012)
5.45 million
Change on year
up 0.3%
World rank
24th
of 186 countries
All-time high
8.16 million
in 1980
All-time low
5.43 million
in 2011
Years of data
33
1980–2012
Number of daily smokers, men and women in United Kingdom, 1980–2012
Source: IHME (2012) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2012, number of daily smokers, men and women in United Kingdom stood at 5.45 million.
The figure is up 0.3% on the previous year and down 14.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of daily smokers, men and women in United Kingdom peaked at 8.16 million in 1980 and was at its lowest, 5.43 million, in 2011.
That places United Kingdom 24th out of 186 countries with data for 2012, putting it in the top quarter.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Number of daily smokers, men and women in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 8.16 million | — |
| 1981 | 8.04 million | -1.5% |
| 1982 | 7.89 million | -1.9% |
| 1983 | 7.73 million | -2.1% |
| 1984 | 7.58 million | -1.9% |
| 1985 | 7.44 million | -1.9% |
| 1986 | 7.29 million | -2.0% |
| 1987 | 7.14 million | -2.0% |
| 1988 | 6.99 million | -2.1% |
| 1989 | 6.87 million | -1.8% |
| 1990 | 6.76 million | -1.6% |
| 1991 | 6.69 million | -1.1% |
| 1992 | 6.64 million | -0.8% |
| 1993 | 6.61 million | -0.3% |
| 1994 | 6.60 million | -0.2% |
| 1995 | 6.59 million | -0.1% |
| 1996 | 6.58 million | -0.1% |
| 1997 | 6.58 million | -0.1% |
| 1998 | 6.57 million | -0.2% |
| 1999 | 6.54 million | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 6.48 million | -0.9% |
| 2001 | 6.42 million | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 6.35 million | -1.1% |
| 2003 | 6.23 million | -1.8% |
| 2004 | 6.09 million | -2.2% |
| 2005 | 5.96 million | -2.2% |
| 2006 | 5.81 million | -2.5% |
| 2007 | 5.67 million | -2.5% |
| 2008 | 5.57 million | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 5.51 million | -1.1% |
| 2010 | 5.45 million | -1.0% |
| 2011 | 5.43 million | -0.4% |
| 2012 | 5.45 million | +0.3% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 5.45 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 539,162, 10.1× the median. (58 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 5.45 million is above the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 738,656, 7.4× the median. (49 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 7.51 million | 6.87 million | 8.16 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 6.61 million | 6.54 million | 6.76 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 6.01 million | 5.51 million | 6.48 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 5.44 million | 5.43 million | 5.45 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More gender data for United Kingdom
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 11,226 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.9161 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 60,060 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 60,060 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.7034 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 335,907 (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 353,938 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 340,922 (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 359,075 (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 343,706 (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of daily smokers, men and women in United Kingdom?
- Number of daily smokers, men and women in United Kingdom was 5.45 million in 2012, according to IHME (2012) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of daily smokers, men and women recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 8.16 million in 1980.
- What is the lowest number of daily smokers, men and women recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 5.43 million in 2011.
- How does United Kingdom rank for number of daily smokers, men and women?
- United Kingdom ranks 24th out of 186 countries with data for 2012.
- Is number of daily smokers, men and women rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from IHME (2012) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of daily smokers, men and women. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
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About this data
Estimates of the number of men and women who smoke cigarettes at least daily (all ages).