Share of smokers aged 14 years and older in Italy 2021, by region

The share of daily smokers in Italy has diminished in the last decade, shifting from an average of 22.8 percent in 2010 to 19 percent in 2021. As of 2021, the highest percentage of smokers among Italians aged 14 years and older was found in Tuscany, where roughly 22.4 people per 100 residents were smokers. Conversely, the region with the lowest share of individuals smoking was Veneto, with around 14.9 percent.

Smoking habits

In addition to the percentage decrease in daily smokers in Italy, smoking habits have also changed in terms of the number of cigarettes smoked per person. When it comes to the number of cigarettes smoked daily, a decrease in the percentage of people smoking more than 20 cigarettes a day could be observed from 2010 to 2021, as well as an increase in the percentage of people smoking up to five cigarettes a day.

Smokers’ profile

Gender and age play an important role when looking at the probability of being a regular smoker. In 2021, the share of smokers in Italy was higher among males, which accounted for 22.9 percent of the male population, whereas only 15.3 percent of females were regular smokers. During the same year, the age group with the highest percentage of smokers was those between 25 and 44 years, with 25.2 percent. This percentage grew to 32.5 when considering just the population who stopped studying after lower secondary school.