Percentage of adults in the U.S. who smoke as of 2021, by state

As of 2021, the U.S. states with the highest smoking rates included West Virginia, Kentucky, and Arkansas. In West Virginia, around 20 percent of all adults smoked as of this time. The percentage of the U.S. population who are smokers has decreased over the past decades.

Who smokes?

The smoking rates for both men and women have decreased for many years, but men continue to smoke at higher rates than women. Smoking is also more prevalent among those aged 25 to 64 years, and less so among the younger and older. Concerning race and ethnicity, smoking is by far most prevalent among American Indians, and least prevalent among Asians.

Health impacts of smoking

The negative health impacts of smoking are vast. Smoking increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and many different types of cancers. For example, smoking is estimated to be attributable to 81 percent of all deaths from lung cancer among adults 30 years and older in the United States. Smoking is currently the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.