Smoking prevalence by sex in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Smoking prevalence by sex was 12.0% in 2020. ▼ Falling
Latest (2020)
12.0%
Change on year
down 29.4%
World rank
34th
of 38 countries
All-time high
33.0%
in 2006
All-time low
12.0%
in 2020
Years of data
6
2006–2020
Smoking prevalence by sex in United Kingdom, 2006–2020
Source: Eurostat. Measured in Percentage of total population.
Analysis
The most recent figure for smoking prevalence by sex in United Kingdom is 12.0%, measured in 2020. That is the lowest value across all 6 years on record.
The figure is down 29.4% on the previous year and down 57.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, smoking prevalence by sex in United Kingdom peaked at 33.0% in 2006 and was at its lowest, 12.0%, in 2020.
United Kingdom ranks 34th of 38 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Smoking prevalence by sex in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | Percentage of total population | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 33.0% | — |
| 2009 | 28.0% | -15.2% |
| 2012 | 27.0% | -3.6% |
| 2014 | 22.0% | -18.5% |
| 2017 | 17.0% | -22.7% |
| 2020 | 12.0% | -29.4% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 30.5% | 28.0% | 33.0% | 2 |
| 2010s | 22.0% | 17.0% | 27.0% | 3 |
| 2020s | 12.0% | 12.0% | 12.0% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
- 31 Ireland 16.0% compare
- 32 Finland 15.0% compare
- 33 Denmark 14.0% compare
- 34 United Kingdom 12.0% compare
- 36 Netherlands 11.0% compare
- 36 Netherlands 11.0% compare
More reference data data for United Kingdom
- Cooling and heating degree days by NUTS 2 regions - annual data -3.65 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cooling and heating degree days by NUTS 2 regions - monthly data 1.57 % change on previous year (2025)
- Cooling and heating degree days by NUTS 2 regions - annual data 2,710 Number (2025)
- Cooling and heating degree days by NUTS 2 regions - monthly data 358.44 Number (2025)
- R&D personnel by sector of performance and region — R&D Personnel 739,816 Persons (2017)
- Victims in road accidents by NUTS 2 region 1,860 Number (2016)
- Stock of vehicles by category and NUTS 2 region 36.71 million Number (2018)
- Deaths (total) by NUTS 3 region 614,313 Number (2018)
- Establishments, bedrooms and bed-places in tourist accommodation, by 84,580 Number (2016)
- Deaths by age, sex and NUTS 2 region 614,313 Number (2018)
Frequently asked questions
- What is smoking prevalence by sex in United Kingdom?
- Smoking prevalence by sex in United Kingdom was 12.0% in 2020, according to Eurostat.
- What is the highest smoking prevalence by sex recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 33.0% in 2006.
- What is the lowest smoking prevalence by sex recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 12.0% in 2020.
- How does United Kingdom rank for smoking prevalence by sex?
- United Kingdom ranks 34th out of 38 countries with data for 2020.
- Is smoking prevalence by sex rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 57.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Eurostat, published as part of Smoking prevalence by sex. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Eurostat).