Prevalence of Smoking

Prevalence of Smoking measures the percent of the population over age 18 that smokes tobacco products regularly. The information is obtained from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and measures the percentage of the population that has smoked at least 100 cigarettes and currently smokes regularly.

The prevalence of smoking in the population has an adverse impact on overall health by causing increased cases of respiratory diseases, cancer and other illnesses. It is a lifestyle behavior that an individual can directly influence.

Table 18 displays the 2004 ranks, based on 2003 data (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The proportion of the population that smokes varies from a low of 11.9 percent in Utah to more than 30 percent in Kentucky. The national average is 22.0 percent of the population, a decrease of 1.0 percent from the revised rate for the past year. The prevalence of smoking decreased by more than 2.0 percent in Hawaii, Alaska, Delaware, Arizona, Virginia and Tennessee. It increased by more than 2.0 percent in Louisiana. Since the 1990 Edition, the prevalence of smoking has decreased in the United States by 7.5 percent. Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut, Virginia, Nevada, Hawaii, and Colorado have each lowered the prevalence of smoking since 1990 by 10 percent or more.

Every state has experienced a decrease since the 1990 Edition. Missouri, South Carolina and Utah have had the smallest decreases. Due to the limits of the BRFSS, caution must be used in comparing changes in prevalence of smoking in states with small populations.

¹ Source: 2003 data, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention