Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults—United States, 2005–2015

November 11, 2016 / Vol. 65 / No. 44

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MMWR Highlights

Percentage of people aged >18 years who were current cigarette smokers, by age

• The percentage of 18- to 24-year olds who were current cigarette smokers decreased from 24.4% in 2005 to 13.0% in 2015.
• The percentage of 25- to 44-year olds who were current cigarette smokers decreased from 24.1% in 2005 to 17.7% in 2015.
• The percentage of 45- to 64-year olds who were current cigarette smokers decreased from 21.9% in 2005 to 17.0% in 2015.
• The percentage of those aged >65 who were current cigarette smokers did not change and was 8.6% in 2005 and 8.4% in 2015.

Percentage of people aged >18 years who were current cigarette smokers, by race/ethnicity

• The percentage of white adults who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 21.9% in 2005 to 16.6% in 2015.
• The percentage of black adults who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 21.5% in 2005 to 16.7% in 2015.
• The percentage of Hispanic adults who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 16.2% in 2005 to 10.1% in 2015.
• The percentage of American Indian/Alaskan Native adults who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 32.0% in 2005 to 21.9% in 2015.
• The percentage of Asian adults who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 13.3% in 2005 to 7.0% in 2015.

Percentage of people aged >18 years who were current cigarette smokers, by education level

• The percentage adults with 0 to 12 years of education, and no diploma, who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 25.5% in 2012 to 24.2% in 2015.
• The percentage adults with an 8th grade or less education level who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 17.1% in 2005 to 14.4% in 2015.
• The percentage of adults with a 9th through 11th grade education level who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 32.6% in 2005 to 31.6% in 2015.
• The percentage of adults with a 12th grade education level, and no diploma, who are current cigarette smokers was 26.0% in 2005 and 26.3% in 2015.
• The percentage of adults with a GED who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 43.2% in 2005 to 34.1% in 2015.
• The percentage of adults who are high school graduates and who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 24.6% in 2005 to 19.8% in 2015.
• The percentage of adults who had some college education, but no diploma, who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 23.5% in 2005 to 18.5% in 2015.
• The percentage of adults with an associate degree who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 20.9% in 2005 to 16.6% in 2015.
• The percentage of adults with an undergraduate degree who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 10.7% in 2005 to 7.4% in 2015.
• The percentage of adults with a graduate degree who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 7.1% in 2005 to 3.6% in 2015.

Percentage of people aged >18 years who were current cigarette smokers, by poverty status

• The percentage of adults at or above the poverty level who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 20.6% in 2005 to 13.9% in 2015.
• The percentage of adults below the poverty level who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 29.9% in 2005 to 26.1% in 2015.

Percentage of people aged >18 years who were current cigarette smokers, by US Census Region

• The percentage of adults living in the Northeast who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 19.2% in 2005 to 13.5% in 2015.
• The percentage of adults living in the Midwest who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 24.2% in 2005 to 18.7% in 2015.
• The percentage of adults living in the South who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 21.8% in 2005 to 15.3% in 2015.
• The percentage of adults living in the West who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 17.0% in 2005 to 12.4% in 2015.

Percentage of people aged >18 years who were current cigarette smokers, by health insurance coverage

• The percentage of adults covered by Medicaid who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 31.3% in 2005 to 27.8% in 2015.
• The percentage of adults covered by Medicare only who are current cigarette smokers was 8.7% in 2005 and 8.9% in 2015.
• The percentage of adults covered by private insurance who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 17.3% in 2005 to 11.1% in 2015.
• The percentage of adults covered by other public insurance who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 25.1% in 2005 to 19.0% in 2015.
• The percentage of uninsured adults who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 33.3% in 2005 to 27.4% in 2015.

Percentage of people aged >18 years who were current cigarette smokers, by disability or limitation

• The percentage of adults with a disability or limitation who are current cigarette smokers was 21.5% in 2015 (this question was not asked in the 2005 survey).
• The percentage of adults with no disability or limitation who are current cigarette smokers was 13.8% in 2014 (this question was not asked in the 2005 survey).

Percentage of people aged >18 years who were current cigarette smokers, by sexual orientation

• The percentage of straight adults who are current cigarette smokers was 14.9% in 2015 (this question was not asked in the 2005 survey).
• The percentage of gay/lesbian/bisexual adults who are current cigarette smokers was 20.6% in 2015 (this question was not asked in the 2005 survey).

Percentage of people aged >18 years who were current cigarette smokers, by serious psychological distress

• The percentage of adults with serious psychological distress who are current cigarette smokers was 41.9 in 2005 and 40.6% in 2015.
• The percentage of adults with no serious psychological stress who are current cigarette smokers decreased from 20.3% in 2005 to 14.0% in 2015.