Smoking

Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in Australia today (AIHW 2021). Over one third of cardiovascular disease (CVD) deaths and one quarter of acute coronary syndrome hospitalisations in Australia for people aged less than 65 have been attributed to smoking (Banks et al. 2019).

Smoking increases the risk of coronary heart disease. As tobacco smoke is absorbed into the bloodstream, it damages blood vessels, increases the formation of plaques and clots, and reduces blood oxygen levels.

While public health strategies have reduced the prevalence of smoking in Australia over many years (Department of Health and Aged Care 2023), the proportion of people continuing to smoke is still concerning, particularly in some population groups.


In 2022–23, based on results from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey:

  • 8.3% of people aged 14 and over smoked daily (males 9.0%, females 7.7%)
  • men and women aged 50–59 had the highest proportion of current daily smokers (12.1% and 11.9%, respectively).

Between 2001 and 2022–23:

  • the proportion age 14 and over who smoked daily decreased by 57% for both males and females
  • daily smoking rates among males and females aged 15–24 decreased by 74% and 82%, respectively (AIHW 2024).

CVD mortality has been estimated to be almost 3 times as high in current smokers than never-smokers. Quitting smoking by age 45 avoids almost all of the excess risk of CVD (Banks et al. 2019).

Use of e-cigarettes

While the proportion of Australians who smoke tobacco may be declining, the use of e-cigarettes is becoming more common, particularly among young adults. Current use of e-cigarettes among people aged 14 and over nearly tripled between 2019 (2.5%) and 2022–23 (7.0%) while quadrupling among people aged 18–24 (from 5.3% to 21%) and increasing more than five-fold among people aged 14–17 (from 1.8% to 9.7%) (AIHW 2024).

For more information see the report National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022–23.

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