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.
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
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.
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 smokers 2 —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
* Data from individual state surveys may not be directly comparable to data from different surveys conducted in other states.
Relevant news and research
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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