1.8 million fewer adult smokers in England

New statistics from NHS Digital has revealed that the number of adult cigarette smokers in England has dropped by around 1.8 million since the end of 2011.

The Statistics on Smoking, England: 2019 report also includes data from Public Health England and the Office for National Statistics, and reveals that the prevalence of adult smokers throughout the UK was 14.7 per cent, down from 7.7 million in 2011 to 5.9 million last year.

The analysis also shows that adults aged 25 to 34 were most likely to smoke last year, while those aged 65 and over were least likely to smoke. Just under 11 per cent of pregnant women were known to be smokers at the time of delivery in 2018-19. This is similar than the level recorded in 2017-18, but down from 15 per cent in 2008/09.

Regarding e-cigarettes, the data highlights that usage continues to rise, with 6.3 per cent of adults being current users in 2018. This is compared to 5.5 per cent in 2017 and 3.7 per cent in 2014. Adults aged 35 to 49 were most likely to use e-cigarettes. The most common reason for adults using e-cigarettes was as an aid to quit smoking (cited by 51.5 per cent).

Although the number of women smoking while pregnant has fallen by nearly a third in the past decade from 14.6 per cent of all pregnancies in 2008/9 to 10.6 per cent in 2018/19, the rate of decrease has slowed in recent years.

Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, chief midwifery officer for England, said: “Having a baby in this country is now safer than ever but smoking while carrying a baby puts both parent and child at avoidable and potentially deadly risk. No woman should have to experience the heartbreak of stillbirth, and quitting smoking is absolutely vital for a healthy mum and a healthy baby.

“The NHS Long Term Plan sets out a programme of measures including stop smoking classes for all pregnant women, which will make giving birth even safer, and build on progress in NHS care which has helped reduce stillbirths by 20 per cent.”