Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Australia
Australia: Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco was 11.6% in 2024. ▼ Falling
Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Australia, 2000–2024
Source: World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data. Measured in % of adults.
Analysis
Australia recorded 11.6% for share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 9 years on record.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.3% on the previous year and down 24.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Australia peaked at 24.9% in 2000 and was at its lowest, 11.6%, in 2024.
Australia ranks 122nd of 167 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Australia, year by year
| Year | % of adults | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 24.9% | — |
| 2005 | 21.2% | -14.9% |
| 2007 | 19.9% | -6.1% |
| 2010 | 18.1% | -9.0% |
| 2015 | 15.4% | -14.9% |
| 2020 | 13.2% | -14.3% |
| 2022 | 12.4% | -6.1% |
| 2023 | 12.0% | -3.2% |
| 2024 | 11.6% | -3.3% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 11.6% is below the median for high income countries, which is 21.2%, 55% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Australia's 11.6% is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 23.1%, 50% of the median. (29 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 22.0% | 19.9% | 24.9% | 3 |
| 2010s | 16.8% | 15.4% | 18.1% | 2 |
| 2020s | 12.3% | 11.6% | 13.2% | 4 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More reference data data for Australia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 28.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 118.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 170.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 13.9 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Australia?
- Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco in Australia was 11.6% in 2024, according to World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 24.9% in 2000.
- What is the lowest share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 11.6% in 2024.
- How does Australia rank for share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco?
- Australia ranks 122nd out of 167 countries with data for 2024.
- Is share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 24.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from World Health Organization – Global Health Observatory (2026) – with minor processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of adults who smoke or use other tobacco. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 9 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Estimated percentage of adults (15 years and older) who currently use tobacco. This includes all forms of tobacco use, such as smoking, chewing or snuffing, but excludes products that do not contain tobacco, such as e-cigarettes.