Smoking prevalence varies across Australian states and territories; however, it is important to note that estimates of prevalence in each state and territory may be less reliable than those for the total population.
1.13.1 Latest estimates of prevalence in Australian states and territories
Figure 1.13.1 shows the prevalence of regular (daily + weekly) smoking among Australian men and women aged 18+ by state and territory in 2019.

Figure 1.13.1 Prevalence of regular* smoking †, Australians aged 18+, 2019—by each state and territory
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 2019. 2
Table 1.13.1 Prevalence of daily and current smoking* for Australians 14+ by sex, 2019, in each state and territory and Australia (age standardized)
National Health Survey
The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ National Health Survey also provides data on smoking prevalence for each state and territory in 2014–15 and again in 2017–18, see Table 1.14.2. Note data is for Australians 18 and over whereas the data above from the NDSHS is for Australians 14 and over.
Table 1.13.2 Prevalence of daily smoking for Australians 18+, 2014–15 and 2017–18, in each state and territory (age adjusted)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, National Health Survey: First Results, 2014–15 and NHS: First Results: 2017–18 and (Table 2.3 Summary health characteristics — states and territories, age adjusted) and Table 2.4 Margins of error of proportion)
1.13.2 Trends in prevalence in Australian states and territories
As shown in Figure 1.13.2, since 2001, adults in the Northern Territory (NT) have consistently had the highest level of regular smoking among adults (17% in 2019). In 2019, residents of NT were significantly more likely to be regular smokers than people from NSW, Victoria and ACT (controlling for age and sex). High smoking rates in the NT may reflect the high percentage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples residing there—smoking rates among all Indigenous Australians were about 39% in 2014–15 3 —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. 4
Significant linear declines in adult regular smoking prevalence from 2001 to 2019 have been observed in all states and territories (controlling for age and sex). For the most recent period of 2016 to 2019, there were significant declines in smoking prevalence in NSW and Victoria.
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References
1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 2019. ADA Dataverse, 2021. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.26193/WRHDUL.
2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Data tables: National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2019 - s. State fact sheet supplementary tables. Cat. no. PHE 270 Canberra: AIHW, 2020. Available from: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/illicit-use-of-drugs/national-drug-strategy-household-survey-2019/data.
3. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 4714.0 - national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social survey, 2014-15. 2016. Available from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/mf/4714.0
4. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 2071.0 - census of population and housing: Reflecting Australia - stories from the census, 2016. 2017. Available from: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/by%20Subject/2071.0~2016~Main%20Features~Aboriginal%20and%20Torres%20Strait%20Islander%20Population%20Data%20Summary~10