Who Still Smokes In The U.S.?

Tobacco use is significantly more common among men, people in poverty, mentally ill people, people with less education, Native Americans, and people in the South and Appalachia. 

It is significantly lower among women, people not in poverty, people with more education, Hispanics and Asian-Americans, Mormons, people over age 65, and people from politically Democratic leaning states.

Smoking Rates Overall and For Men v. Women 

In November 2015, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention noted in their report, "The percentage of U.S. adults who smoke cigarettes declined from 20.9 percent in 2005 to 16.8 percent in 2014. Cigarette smoking was significantly lower in 2014 (16.8 percent) than in 2013 (17.8 percent)." The CDC concluded this from data obtained by a survey of Americans. 

For instance, current smoking was higher among men at 23.9% than women at 18.1%. This is consistent with other countries. 

In 2013, the national smoking average in the United States was 19.6% of the adult population.   

As of 2018, a total of 13.7% of U.S. adults (16.7% of men and 13.6% of women) smoke.

In 2005, prevalence of current cigar smoking was 2.2% and current smokeless tobacco use was 2.3%. Prevalence of cigar smoking and use of smokeless tobacco were higher among men (4.3% and 4.5%, respectively) than women (0.3% and 0.2%).  

Of U.S. smokers in 2005, 80.8% (or 36.5 million) smoked every day, and 19.2% (or 8.7 million) smoked some days.  

 Demographic Distinctions

The prevalence of current cigarette smoking also varied substantially across population groups. 

Among racial and ethnic groups, Native Americans and Alaska Natives had the highest prevalence at 32.0%, followed by non-Hispanic whites at 21.9%, and non-Hispanic blacks at 21.5%. Hispanics at 16.2%, and Asians at 13.3% had the lowest rates.

Smoking prevalence also based on education level, with the highest among adults who had earned a General Educational Development (GED) diploma at 43.2% and those with 9–11 years of education at 32.6%. Prevalence generally decreased with increasing education.

The prevalence of current smoking was higher among adults living below the poverty line at 29.9% than among those at or above the poverty line at 20.6%.

Persons with mental illness, making up about 20% of the population, consume about 33% of the tobacco used. Persons with serious mental illness die 25 years earlier than average, often from smoking related illnesses.

In 2005, the CDC set a 2010 target of 12% for current cigarette smoking prevalence. Certain populations had already surpassed these when it was set. This included Hispanic (11.1%) and Asian (6.1%) women, women with undergraduate (9.6%) or graduate (7.4%) degrees, men with undergraduate (11.9%) or graduate (6.9%) degrees[.]

 

Smoking percentages by group in the U.S. (2010)

Smoking Rates By Age 

Around 4,000 minors start smoking in the US every day.

Adults aged 18–24 years were at 24.4% and 25–44 years were at 24.1% had the highest prevalences. 

[In 2005, the smoking rate for] men aged over 65 years [was] (8.9%), and [for] women aged over 65 years [was] (8.3%). 

Adult tobacco use by age (2013-2014 survey).

High school student cigarette use (1991–2007). This 20% figure for 2007 is probably high because tobacco use generally has fallen a great deal since 2007.

Regional Variation 

The following have some of the lowest percentages of smokers with their states: 

Utah, 10.6%, lowest percentage of smokers. 

California, 11.7% 2nd lowest.

Hawaii, 14.6%, 3rd lowest. 

Connecticut, 16%, 4th lowest. 

Massachusetts, 16.4%, 7th lowest. 

Vermont, 16.5%, 9th lowest.  

There are large regional differences in smoking rates, with Kentucky, West Virginia, Oklahoma and Mississippi topping the list, and Idaho, California and Utah at significantly lower rates.

Smoking prevalence among U.S. adults by state (2010)

Quiting 

Among cigarette smokers in 2005, an estimated 42.5% had stopped smoking for at least 1 day during the preceding 12 months because they were trying to quit. Among the estimated 42.5% (or 91.8 million) of people who had smoked at least 100 cigarettes during their lifetimes (the question the CDC asked to measure if they were ever smokers or not), 50.8% (or 46.5 million) did not smoke currently. 

However, researchers said that they are not sure if products like e-cigarettes are in any way helpful to reduce smokers in the country.

From Wikipedia (order rearranged without notation and headings added editorially). 

Stray Observation:

One of the biggest divisions within "red state America" is between Mormons and non-Mormons. 

Mormons have much less alcohol and tobacco use, marry earlier, have more children, divorce less often, are more engaged with the world outside the United States, are more educated, are more inclined to support public spending on education, and are less rural than other Republican leaning demographics.

While Trump won Mormon strongholds like Utah and Idaho by safe margins, Mormons have been far more ambivalent about Trump than other Republican leaning demographics. In part this reflect their culture roots in New England. Certainly, Mormons and other American conservatives have other points of common ground like opposition to abortion and opposition to gay rights. But Mormons are a cohesive and distinct part of the Republican coalition.