1.13 Smoking by Australian states and territories

Last updated: March 2024
Suggested citation: Greenhalgh, EM, Bayly, M, & Scollo M. 1.13 Smoking by Australian states and territories. In Greenhalgh, EM, Scollo, MM and Winstanley, MH [editors].   Tobacco in Australia: Facts and issues. Melbourne: Cancer Council Victoria; 2024. Available from:  https://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-1-prevalence/1-13-smoking-states-territories

 

Smoking prevalence varies across Australian states and territories; however, it is important to note that estimates of prevalence in national surveys for each state and territory may be less (statistically) reliable than those for the total population and those from much larger population surveys that are conducted each year or biannually in several states.  *

This section reports data on either ‘current’ or ‘daily’ smoking from both the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s National Drug Strategy Household Survey, and from the Australian Bureau of Statistics National Health Survey. 

 

1.13.1 Latest estimates of prevalence in Australian states and territories

Figure 1.13.1 shows the prevalence of current (daily, weekly, or less than weekly) smoking among Australians aged 14+ by state and territory and gender in 2022–23.

 

Figure 1.13.1 Prevalence of current* smoking  , Australians aged 14+, 2022–23—by state and territory

*Includes those reporting that they smoke daily, weekly, or less than weekly.

† Includes persons smoking any combination of cigarettes, pipes or cigars.

Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Data tables: National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022–23. States and Territories supplementary tables. Table 9b.5. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/illicit-use-of-drugs/national-drug-strategy-household-survey/data

 

Table 1.13.1 sets out estimates for prevalence of current smoking, ex-smoking and never smoking in each Australian state and territory among males and females 14 years and older in 2022–23.1

Table 1.13.1 Prevalence of  daily and  current smoking* for Australians 14+ by gender, 2022–23, in each state and territory and Australia

*Includes persons smoking any combination of cigarettes (factory-made and roll-your-own), pipes or cigars

† Smoked more than 100 cigarettes (manufactured or roll-your own) or the equivalent amount of tobacco in their life but reports no longer smoking.

‡Never smoked more than 100 cigarettes (manufactured or roll-your own) or the equivalent amount of tobacco.

^ Estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution. See source document for margins of error for all estimates.

Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Data tables: National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022–23. States and Territories supplementary tables. Table 9b.5. Available from:  https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/illicit-use-of-drugs/national-drug-strategy-household-survey/data 

 

National Health Survey

The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ National Health Survey also provides data on smoking prevalence among Australians aged 18+ for each state and territory in 2022, see  Figure 1.13.2.

 

Figure 1.13.2 Prevalence of daily smoking, Australians aged 18+, 2022—by state and territory (age standardised)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, National Health Survey, 2022. Table 2.4. Available from:  https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/national-health-survey/latest-release 

 

1.13.2 Trends in prevalence in Australian states and territories

As shown in  Figure 1.13.3, since 2007, people aged 14+ in the Northern Territory (NT) have generally had the highest level of current smoking among adults, though in 2022–23 current smoking prevalence was the same among Tasmanians at 16.1%. All states and territories except NT and Tasmania experienced a decline in daily smoking between 2019 and 2022–23.1  High smoking rates in the NT may reflect the high percentage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples residing there—in 2018–19 38% of the combined Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population aged 15+ were daily smokers2  —see  Section 8.3. About 26% of the residents of the NT are of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island origin, compared with 5% or less in all other states and territories.3

Figure 1.13.3 Prevalence of  current* smoking  , Australians aged 14+, 2007–2022–23—by state and territoy

* Includes those reporting that they smoke daily, weekly, or less than weekly.

† Includes persons smoking any combination of cigarettes, pipes or cigars.

Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Data tables: National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022–23. States and Territories supplementary tables. Table 9b.5. Available from:  https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/illicit-use-of-drugs/national-drug-strategy-household-survey/data  


* Data from individual state surveys may not be directly comparable to data from different surveys conducted in other states.

 ABS estimates of prevalence of smoking supplement data from the NHS with data from other ABS surveys in order to optimise sample size. See  https://www.abs.gov.au/methodologies/national-health-survey-methodology/2022


Relevant news and research

For recent news items and research on this topic, click  here.(Last updated September 2023)

References 

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022–2023. Canberra: AIHW, 2024. Available from:  https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/illicit-use-of-drugs/national-drug-strategy-household-survey

2. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 4715.0 - National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey, 2018-19. ABS,  2019. Available from:  https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/4715.0Main%20Features152018-19?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=4715.0&issue=2018-19&num=&view=

3. Australian Bureau of Statistics. Northern Territory: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population summary.  2022. Available from:  https://www.abs.gov.au/articles/northern-territory-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-population-summary#where-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-people-live