Home » Chapter 1: Prevalence » 1.5 Prevalence of smoking—middle-aged and older adults

1.5 Prevalence of smoking—middle-aged and older adults

As noted in the preceding section, people aged under 40 are more likely to smoke than those in older age groups.

1.5.1 Latest estimates of prevalence among middle-aged and older adults

Table 1.5.1
Middle-aged and older adults—percentage of daily, regular and current smokers* by age group, sex and total population—ages 40–49, 50–59, 60–69 and 70+

	40–49	50–59	60–69	70+
Males
Daily	20.2	18.8	13.7	7.0
Weekly	1.9	1.6	1.0*	0.3*
Total regular smokers (daily plus weekly)	22.1	20.4	14.7	7.3
Less than weekly	1.1	1.0*	0.7*	0.5*
Total current smokers (daily, weekly, less than weekly)	23.2	21.4	15.4	7.8
Ex-smokers†	28.6	34.6	43.5	48.4
Never smokers‡	48.1	44.0	41.0	43.7
Females
Daily	18.8	16.0	11.6	4.5
Weekly	1.2	0.9	0.6	0.2*
Total regular smokers (daily plus weekly)	20.0	16.9	12.2	4.7
Less than weekly	1.1	0.7*	0.4*	0.3**
Total current smokers (daily, weekly, less than weekly)	21.1	17.6	12.6	5.0
Ex-smokers†	28.4	28.3	29.2	21.5
Never smokers‡	50.5	54.1	58.2	73.6
Persons (males and females)
Daily	19.5	17.4	12.7	5.6
Weekly	1.5	1.2	0.8	0.2*
Total regular smokers (daily plus weekly)	21.0	18.6	13.5	5.8
Less than weekly	1.1	0.9	0.6	0.4*
Total current smokers (daily, weekly, less than weekly)	22.1	19.5	14.1	6.2
Ex-smokers†	28.5	31.4	36.4	33.3
Never smokers‡	49.3	49.1	49.6	60.5

* Includes persons smoking any combination of cigarettes (factor-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.

Source: National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2010¹, Table 3.3 page 25

1.5.2 Trends in smoking prevalence among middle-aged and older adults

Reflecting smoking patterns from earlier decades, older men are more likely to have smoked at some time in their lives than younger men, and older women are less likely ever to have smoked than younger women. Decreasing smoking rates among the older population reflect increased quitting activity, older age groups of both sexes having the highest quit proportions (defined as the proportion of ever smokers who have stopped smoking).^{2, 3} Tobacco-caused death and illness occurring among smokers in older age groups are also significant factors in declining smoking rates seen in the older population, with the greatest proportion of burden of disease due to smoking affecting those aged 55–75 years.⁴

Table 1.5.2 and Figure 1.5.1 show that smoking rates have declined in smokers aged 40 and over since 1980. Rates stabilised during the early to mid-1990s, before returning to a pattern of decline. The decline in smoking prevalence between 1998 and 2004 (and also between 1998 and 2010) was statistically significant among 40–59 year olds but not in those aged over 60. Smoking rates did not change significantly between 2004 and 2010 for either age group.

Data from the 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey provided more detailed information on smoking prevalence in older Australians. In 2004, 11% of people aged between 60 and 69, 7% of people aged between 70 and 79, and 3% of people aged 80 or more smoked on a daily basis.⁵

Table 1.5.2
Middle-aged and older adults—percentage of regular* smokers† by age group, sex and total population for age group, 1980–2010‡

Age group	40–59			60+
Sex	M	F	T	M	F	T
1980	45	27	36	23	18	20
1983	41	30	35	31	17	23
1986	35	27	31	24	17	20
1989	28	25	27	21	16	18
1992	31	23	27	17	12	14
1995	29	21	25	16	12	14
1998	27	26	27	14	11	12
2001	25	21	23	11	9	10
2004	24	21	23	13	9	11
2007	25	21	23	13	10	11
2010	24	21	22	13	9	11

* See footnote ii in Section 1.2 for explanatory notes regarding methodology used in attaining this data set. Prior to 2001, figures represent those describing themselves as 'current smokers' (no frequency specified). Since 2001 the figures include those reporting that they smoke 'daily' or 'at least weekly'.

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

‡ All data weighted to 2001 census population data and may vary slightly from data presented in previous edition

Source: Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, analysis of data from surveys conducted by the Anti-Cancer Council of Victoria from 1980 to 1998 and from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey since 2001

Figure 1.5.1
Prevalence of regular* smokers† in Australia aged 18+, 1980 to 2010—by age range‡

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

‡ All data weighted to 2001 census population data and may vary slightly from data presented in previous edition

References

1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2010 National Drug Strategy Household Survey: survey report. Drug statistics series no. 25, AIHW cat. no. PHE 145. Canberra: AIHW, 2011. Available from: http://www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=32212254712&libID=32212254712&tab=2

2. Hill DJ, White VM and Scollo MM. Smoking behaviours of Australian adults in 1995: trends and concerns. Medical Journal of Australia 1998;168(5):209–13. Available from: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/mar2/hill/hill.html

3. Gartner CE, Barendregt JJ and Hall WD. Predicting the future prevalence of cigarette smoking in Australia: how low can we go and by when? Tobacco Control 2009;18:183–9. Available from: http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/tc.2008.027615v1

4. Begg S, Vos T, Barker B, Stevenson C, Stanley L and Lopez A. The burden of disease and injury in Australia 2003. AIHW cat. no. PHE 82. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2007. Available from: http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10317

5. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey: detailed findings. Drug strategy series no.16, AIHW cat. no. PHE 66. Canberra: AIHW, 2005. Available from: http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/phe/ndshsdf04/ndshsdf04.pdf

1.5 Prevalence of smoking—middle-aged and older adults

1.1 A brief history of tobacco smoking in Australia

1.2 Overview of major Australian data sets

1.3 Prevalence of smoking—adults

1.4 Prevalence of smoking—young adults