Share of adults who currently smoke in England 2018, by gender and age

In England in 2018, 27 percent of men and 22 percent of women aged between 25 and 34 years were current smokers, this is the highest share of male and female smokers across the age groups. While the age group of 16 to 24 years had the second largest proportion of male smokers at 22 percent, across all age groups males have a higher share of smokers compared to females.

Situation north of the border

In Scotland, the highest share of regular smokers is found in the age group 25 to 24 years at approximately a quarter, followed by those aged between 35 and 44 years at 21 percent. In 2017, 20 percent of men and 16 percent of women overall in Scotland were current smokers.

Dangers of smoking 

Over 1.8 million admissions to NHS hospitals in England in the financial year 2016/17 were caused by smoking. The number of admissions as a result of smoking has been creeping upwards since 2000. Consequently, the number of admissions due to cancers caused by smoking in England has increased since the year 2000, reaching almost 344 thousand in 2016/17.