What percentage of Americans smoke cigarettes?

Answer 1

According to the Centers for Disease Control 2008 health statistics:

"21% of adults 18 years of age and over [in America] were current cigarette smokers, 21% were former smokers, and 58% had never smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime."

"Twenty-three percent of men were current smokers compared with 19% of women. Sixty-three percent of women had never smoked compared with 53% of men."

See related link for the full study.

More Answers

• A recent Gallop poll and states that approximately 21% of Americans are regular smokers, down from 23% in 1999. It was very informative. Here are some of the facts it says: 55% of American smokers smoke less than one pack of cigarettes a day , which is also down form the last studies done. 81% of smokers wish they could quit. 25% of smokers report starting before the age of 16. It also stressed the facts of just how dangerous of a habit it is and the health problems it causes and that the first Gallup poll was conducted in 1944 which found that 41% of Americans smoked cigarettes.

• According to a NY Times article on Barack Obama on Dec. 29, 2008, 21% of Americans smoked in 2008, compared with 28% in 1988.

• There is more detailed information from the American Heart Association web site. 26 million men are smokers (23.5 percent), 21 million women are smokers (18.1 percent)

• The estimates for people aged 18 and older:

Among whites, 23.5 percent of men and 18.8 percent of women smoke. Among blacks, 26.1 percent of men and 18.5 percent of women smoke. Among Hispanics, 20.1 percent of men and 10.1 percent of women smoke. Among non-HIspanic Asians, 16.8 percent of men and 4.6 percent of women smoke. Among American Indians/Alaska Natives, 35.6 percent of men and 29.0 percent of women smoke.