Number of daily smokers, men and women in United States
United States: Number of daily smokers, men and women was 20.67 million in 2012. ▼ Falling
Number of daily smokers, men and women in United States, 1980–2012
Source: IHME (2012) – processed by Our World in Data.
Analysis
In 2012, number of daily smokers, men and women in United States stood at 20.67 million. That is the lowest value across all 33 years on record.
That represents a change of down 0.8% on the previous year and down 9.0% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of daily smokers, men and women in United States peaked at 27.56 million in 1983 and was at its lowest, 20.67 million, in 2012.
That places United States 6th out of 186 countries with data for 2012, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 33 years of available data.
Number of daily smokers, men and women in United States, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 27.38 million | — |
| 1981 | 27.34 million | -0.2% |
| 1982 | 27.55 million | +0.8% |
| 1983 | 27.56 million | +0.0% |
| 1984 | 27.17 million | -1.4% |
| 1985 | 26.73 million | -1.6% |
| 1986 | 26.30 million | -1.6% |
| 1987 | 25.92 million | -1.4% |
| 1988 | 25.51 million | -1.6% |
| 1989 | 25.07 million | -1.7% |
| 1990 | 24.70 million | -1.5% |
| 1991 | 24.51 million | -0.8% |
| 1992 | 24.25 million | -1.1% |
| 1993 | 23.93 million | -1.3% |
| 1994 | 23.59 million | -1.4% |
| 1995 | 23.42 million | -0.7% |
| 1996 | 23.36 million | -0.2% |
| 1997 | 23.38 million | +0.1% |
| 1998 | 23.36 million | -0.1% |
| 1999 | 23.24 million | -0.5% |
| 2000 | 23.06 million | -0.8% |
| 2001 | 22.87 million | -0.8% |
| 2002 | 22.70 million | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 22.59 million | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 22.57 million | -0.1% |
| 2005 | 22.54 million | -0.1% |
| 2006 | 22.43 million | -0.5% |
| 2007 | 22.14 million | -1.3% |
| 2008 | 21.81 million | -1.5% |
| 2009 | 21.52 million | -1.3% |
| 2010 | 21.18 million | -1.6% |
| 2011 | 20.85 million | -1.6% |
| 2012 | 20.67 million | -0.8% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 20.67 million is above the median for high income countries, which is 539,162, 38.3× the median. (58 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 26.65 million | 25.07 million | 27.56 million | 10 |
| 1990s | 23.77 million | 23.24 million | 24.70 million | 10 |
| 2000s | 22.42 million | 21.52 million | 23.06 million | 10 |
| 2010s | 20.90 million | 20.67 million | 21.18 million | 3 |
Countries ranked near United States
More gender data for United States
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) 57,835 (2030)
- Child population (UN estimates and projections) (0-14), annual growth -0.4626 % change on previous year (2030)
- Population 297,814 (2030)
- Working-age population (UN estimates and projections) 297,814 (2030)
- Population (UN estimates and projections), annual growth rate 0.6312 % change on previous year (2030)
- Age population, age 00, female, interpolated 1.79 million (2025)
- Age population, age 00, male, interpolated 1.88 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, female, interpolated 1.80 million (2025)
- Age population, age 01, male, interpolated 1.89 million (2025)
- Age population, age 02, female, interpolated 1.83 million (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of daily smokers, men and women in United States?
- Number of daily smokers, men and women in United States was 20.67 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 States?
- The highest recorded value was 27.56 million in 1983.
- What is the lowest number of daily smokers, men and women recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 20.67 million in 2012.
- How does United States rank for number of daily smokers, men and women?
- United States ranks 6th out of 186 countries with data for 2012.
- Is number of daily smokers, men and women rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is down 9.0%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United States 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.
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About this data
Estimates of the number of men and women who smoke cigarettes at least daily (all ages).