Share of adults who currently smoke in England 2021, by gender and age

In England in 2021, 22 percent of men and 15 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. Across all age groups men either had a higher or equal 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 between 45 to 64 years at 13 percent, followed by those aged between 16 and 44 years at 12 percent. In 2020, 11 percent of men and eight percent of women overall in Scotland were current smokers.

Dangers of smoking 

Over 1.9 million admissions to NHS hospitals in England in the financial year 2019/20 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 381 thousand in 2019/20.