Official Statistics

Smoking profile for England: statistical commentary, March 2024 update

Published 5 March 2024

Applies to England

What’s new

New data has been added to the smoking profile tool on the Fingertips platform. The following indicators have been updated and are available at local authority level as well as for England, the regions and various inequality groups:

• smoking prevalence in adults (18+) - current smokers (GP patient survey (GPPS))
• smoking prevalence in adults (18+) - ex-smokers (GPPS)
• smoking prevalence in adults (18+) - never smoked (GPPS)
• smoking prevalence in adults (18+) with a long-term mental health condition - current smokers (GPPS)
• odds of smoking (self-reported) among adults (18+) with a long-term mental health condition (GPPS)
• smokers setting a quit date with stop smoking services
• smokers that have successfully quit at 4 weeks
• smokers that have successfully quit at 4 weeks (validated using a carbon monoxide monitor)
• completeness of NS-SEC recording by stop smoking services
• cost per quitter in stop smoking services

The smoking profile provides information on the extent of smoking and its related harm, and measures being taken to reduce this harm at a local level. The aim of the profile is to assess the effect of smoking on local populations. The indicators in the smoking profile were selected following consultation with stakeholders and a review of the availability of routine data. The profile is part of a series of products by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) that provide local data alongside national comparisons to support local health improvement.

Main findings

This update shows:

• in 2022 to 2023, the prevalence of self-reported current smoking (aged 18 and over) for those with a long-term mental health condition in England was 25.0%. This is similar to the prevalence for 2021 to 2022 (25.2%) and higher than the prevalence of 13.6% in the general population

• current smoking prevalence for those with a long-term mental health condition living in the most deprived tenth of lower tier local authorities was 28.5% compared with 20.5% for those living in the least deprived tenth

• in 2022 to 2023, the odds of being a current smoker among adults aged 18 and over was 2.4 times higher for those with a long-term mental health condition compared with those without a long-term mental health condition in England. This is similar to the odds ratio for 2021 to 2022 (2.5)

Figure 1: GPPS prevalence of current smokers, aged 18 and over, England, 2013 to 2014 to 2022 to 2023

Source: calculated by OHID Population Health Analysis (PHA) team from NHS England GP Patient Survey.

Definitions

The odds ratio quantifies the difference in prevalence of current smoking between those with a long-term mental health condition and those without a long-term mental health condition. An odds ratio higher than 1 means the prevalence is higher among those with a long-term mental health condition than in those without a long-term mental health condition.

Background and further information

The smoking profiles for England provides a snapshot of the extent of tobacco use, tobacco related harm and measures being taken to reduce this harm at a local level. These profiles have been designed to help local government and health services to assess the effect of tobacco use on their local populations. They will inform commissioning and planning decisions to tackle tobacco use and improve the health of local communities.

The tool allows you to compare your local authority against other local authorities in the region and benchmark your local authority against the England or regional average.

View the smoking profiles

For enquiries or feedback relating to the smoking profile, email profilefeedback@dhsc.gov.uk.