Smoking profile for England: statistical commentary, October 2024 update
Published 1 October 2024
Applies to England
© Crown copyright 2024
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/smoking-profile-october-2024-update/smoking-profile-for-england-statistical-commentary-october-2024-update
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, integrated care board level, as well as for England, the regions and various inequality groups:
- smoking prevalence in adults (aged 18 and over) - current smokers (APS)
- smoking prevalence in adults (18 and over) - ex-smokers (APS)
- smoking prevalence in adults (18 and over) - never smokers (APS)
- smoking prevalence among adults aged 18 to 64 in routine and manual occupations (APS)
- odds of current smoking status among adults aged 18 to 64 with a routine and manual occupation (APS)
- emergency hospital admissions for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (aged 35 and over)
- mortality from oral cancer
Introduction
The smoking profile provides information of 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.
The smoking prevalence figures included in this update for 2023 are from the Annual Population Survey (APS). The APS is the most widely used survey for estimating smoking prevalence in England due to its large sample size and frequency (around 175,000 people in England per year). The APS is designated as a national statistic and has provided a consistent time series of data for smoking prevalence since 2011.
Main findings
The adult (aged 18 and over) current smoking prevalence figure for 2023 in England was 11.6%.
This is a reduction from 12.7% in 2022 and continues the general downward trend observed since 2011 (19.8%).
In 2023, 13.4% of men smoked compared with 9.9% of women in England; this pattern has been consistent since 2011.
The prevalence of ex-smoking among adults (18 and over) in 2023 was 25.1% and prevalence of those who have never smoked was 63.3%.
Figure 1: prevalence of current smokers (18 and over), England, 2011 to 2023
Source: Annual Population Survey.
The prevalence of current smokers in 2023 was highest in the Yorkshire and the Humber (12.7%) and lowest in the South East region (10.6%). The prevalence of current smokers at district and unitary local authority level varied from 26.3% in South Holland to 1.3% in Woking. The prevalence of current smokers at integrated care board (ICB) level varied from 14.3% in NHS Northamptonshire ICB to 7.2% in NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB.
The prevalence of current smokers in 2023 was highest in the most deprived district and unitary authority decile of areas (14.3%) and lowest in the least deprived decile (9.0%).
The prevalence of current smokers in the routine and manual occupation group (aged 18 to 64) in 2023 was 19.5%. The odds of being a current smoker in the routine and manual group was double the odds of being a current smoker in other occupational groups. The odds ratio quantifies the difference in smoking prevalence between those in routine and manual occupations and those in other occupations. Figure 2 shows a small reduction for the odds ratio over time. The odds ratio in 2023 was statistically significantly lower than the odds ratio at the start of the trend in 2011, indicating a slight reduction in the difference between occupational groups.
Figure 2: odds of smoking (self-reported) among adults aged 18 to 64 with a routine and manual occupation compared with those in other occupations (18 to 64) (odds ratio), England, 2011 to 2023
Source: Annual Population Survey.
Definitions
The odds ratio quantifies the difference in prevalence of current smoking between those with a routine and manual occupation and those with other occupations. An odds ratio higher than 1 means the prevalence is higher among those with a routine and manual occupation than those in other occupations.
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.
For enquiries or feedback relating to the smoking profile, email profilefeedback@dhsc.gov.uk.