U.S. adult smoking rate hits all-time low


Adult cigarette smoking in the U.S. dropped to an all-time low last year, according to new data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Based on health surveys from over 27,000 people, only 11 percent of adults reported smoking in 2022, a decrease from 12.5 percent in 2021, reports The Associated Press.
Cigarette smoking has been on the decline since the 1960s, when 42 percent of adults were active smokers, AP notes. Over time, the habit became less socially acceptable as rules like indoor smoking bans meanwhile drove down usage. Smoking has also been proven to cause a number of health problems, including heart disease, lung cancer, COPD, emphysema, asthma, and even death.
But the decline isn't all good — while traditional smoking is on its way out, electronic cigarette usage is actually on the rise, with 6 percent of adults claiming to have participated in the habit in 2022; that's compared to 4.5 percent of adults in 2021. The trend is more concerning for teens, 14 percent of which reported e-cigarette usage in 2022, per other CDC data.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
E-cigarette usage can have dire health consequences, as well. The devices themselves often contain dangerous chemicals like formaldehyde, which can damage the heart and lungs and lead to similar problems as those caused by traditional cigarettes, according to the American Lung Association.
"I think that smoking will continue to ebb downwards, but whether the prevalence of nicotine addiction will drop, given the rise of electronic products, is not clear," Dr. Jonathan Samet, dean of the Colorado School of Public Health, told AP.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Devika Rao has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022, covering science, the environment, climate and business. She previously worked as a policy associate for a nonprofit organization advocating for environmental action from a business perspective.
-
A journey into the deep past on beautiful Arran
The Week Recommends New Unesco Global Geopark played a 'key role' in the birth of modern geological science
-
China's London super-embassy
The Explainer The People's Republic wants to build a massive new embassy in central London, and a lot of people aren't happy about it
-
Crossword: July 6, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
Is that the buzzing sound of climate change worsening sleep apnea?
Under the radar Catching diseases, not those ever-essential Zzs
-
Deadly fungus tied to a pharaoh's tomb may help fight cancer
Under the radar A once fearsome curse could be a blessing
-
Kennedy's vaccine panel signals skepticism, change
Speed Read RFK Jr.'s new vaccine advisory board intends to make changes to the decades-old US immunization system
-
Climate change can impact our gut health
Under the radar The gastrointestinal system is being gutted
-
Kennedy ousts entire CDC vaccine advisory panel
speed read Health Secretary RFK Jr. is a longtime anti-vaccine activist who has criticized the panel of experts
-
Orthorexia nervosa: when clean eating goes too far
The Explainer Being healthy is fine, but obsessing over it is dangerous
-
Children's breakfast cereals are getting more unhealthy
Under the radar Your kids may be starting their day with more than a spoonful of sugar
-
The marvelous powers of mucus
The Explainer It's snot just a pesky cold symptom