Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. Cigarette smoking kills more than 480,000 Americans each year. In addition, the United States spends more than $300 billion a year on smoking-related illness, including more than $225 billion in direct medical care for adults and $156 billion in lost productivity.
In 2020, an estimated 12.5% (30.8 million) of U.S. adults currently smoked cigarettes. Current cigarette smoking was defined as smoking 100 cigarettes during a lifetime and now smoking cigarettes either every day or some days.
Quitting smoking is one of the most important actions people can take to improve their health. This is true regardless of their age or how long they have been smoking.
In 2020, an estimated 12.5% (30.8 million) of U.S. adults currently smoked cigarettes. Current cigarette smoking was defined as smoking 100 cigarettes during a lifetime and now smoking cigarettes either every day or some days.
Quitting smoking is one of the most important actions people can take to improve their health. This is true regardless of their age or how long they have been smoking.
Quitting smoking:
While quitting earlier in life yields greater health benefits, quitting smoking is beneficial to health at any age. Even people who have smoked for many years or have smoked heavily will benefit from quitting.1
Quitting smoking is the single best way to protect family members, coworkers, friends, and others from the health risks associated with breathing secondhand smoke.
Health Benefits of Quitting Smoking Over Time
Percentage of persons aged 18 years + who reported cigarette use “every day” or “some days” at time of survey and reported smoking at least 100 cigarettes during their lifetime.3
Content source: Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
- Improves health status and enhances quality of life.
- Reduces the risk of premature death and can add as much as 10 years to life expectancy.
- reduces the risk for many adverse health effects, including poor reproductive health outcomes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and cancer.
- benefits people already diagnosed with coronary heart disease or COPD.
- benefits the health of pregnant women and their fetuses and babies.
- reduces the financial burden that smoking places on people who smoke, healthcare systems, and society.
While quitting earlier in life yields greater health benefits, quitting smoking is beneficial to health at any age. Even people who have smoked for many years or have smoked heavily will benefit from quitting.1
Quitting smoking is the single best way to protect family members, coworkers, friends, and others from the health risks associated with breathing secondhand smoke.
Health Benefits of Quitting Smoking Over Time
Percentage of persons aged 18 years + who reported cigarette use “every day” or “some days” at time of survey and reported smoking at least 100 cigarettes during their lifetime.3
| By Sex | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Male | 14.1% |
| Female | 11.0% |
| By Age Group (yrs) | Percentage |
| 18–24 | 7.4% |
| 25–44 | 14.1% |
| 45–64 | 14.9% |
| 65 + | 9.0% |
| By Race/Ethnicity | Percentage |
| White, non-Hispanic | 13.3% |
| Black, non-Hispanic | 14.4% |
| Asian, non-Hispanic | 8.0% |
| American Indian/Alaska Native, non-Hispanic | 27.1% | Hispanic | 8.0% |
| Other, non-Hispanic | 19.5% |
| By U.S. Census Region | Percentage |
| Northeast | 10.4% |
| Midwest | 15.2% |
| South | 14.1% |
| West | 9.0% |
| By Education (adults aged 25 + yrs) | Percentage |
| 0–12 yrs (no diploma) | 21.5% |
| GED | 32.0% |
| High school diploma | 17.6% |
| Some college, no degree | 14.4% |
| Associate degree (academic or technical/vocational) | 12.7% |
| Undergraduate degree (bachelor’s) | 5.6% |
| Graduate degree (Master’s, doctoral or professional) | 3.5% |
| By Marital Status | Percentage |
| Married/Living with partner | 10.9% |
| Divorced/Separated/Widowed | 17.3% |
| Single/Never married/Not living with partner | 13.0% |
| By Annual Household Income | Percentage |
| Less than $35,000 | 20.2% |
| $35,000–$74,999 | 14.1% |
| $75,000–$99,999 | 10.5% |
| $100,000 + | 6.2% |
Content source: Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion