Health Status of Canadians 2016: Report of the Chief Public Health Officer - What is influencing our health? - Smoking

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What is influencing our health?

Smoking

In 2015, just under 4 million or just over 1 in 10 Canadians smoked regularly or occasionally (see Figure 1)^{Footnote 1}.

Canadians who smoked daily consumed an average of 14 cigarettes a day.^{Footnote 1}

Smoking is a leading cause of preventable disease and premature death. Both smoking and exposure to second-hand smoke have been linked to a number of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and other chronic conditions.^{Footnote 3-7}

Did you know?

More Canadians are trying e-cigarettes. In 2015, approximately 3.9 million or 13% of Canadians 15 years and older had tried e-cigarettes compared to 2.5 million or 9% in 2013.^{Footnote 1,Footnote 2} Young adults are most likely to try e-cigarettes with 31% or 734,000 Canadians aged 20 to 24 years saying they tried them in 2015.^{Footnote 1,Footnote 2}

Over time, by sex

In 1999, 25% of Canadians 15 years and older were daily or occasional smokers. By 2015, this had dropped to 13%.^{Footnote 1,Footnote 8} In 2015, 16% of men and 10% of women were current smokers (see Figure 2)^{Footnote 1}. Men smoked an average of 15 cigarettes per day while women smoked 12.^{Footnote 1}

By income

In 2013, 27% of people living in the lowest-income households and 14% of people living in the highest-income households said they smoked.^{Footnote 10}

By age

In 2015, young adults were most likely to smoke compared to other age groups.^{Footnote 1,Footnote 2} Only adults aged 25 years and older have were less likely to smoke in 2015 than in 2013.^{Footnote 1,Footnote 2}

Indigenous populations

Data on smoking in Indigenous populations are not directly comparable to the data described above. Among First Nations on-reserve, adults were more likely to smoke on a daily basis than youth.^{Footnote 11}

In 2007-2010, Indigenous peoples were more likely say they smoked daily or occasionally than non-Indigenous people.^{Footnote 12}

International comparison

Canada continues to have the second lowest smoking proportion of people who smoke among G7 countries. Between 1994 and 2014, the percent of people who smoked daily decreased by 45% in Canada compared to a reduction of 39% in the United States and that of 20% in France (see Figure 3)^{Footnote 13}.

Notes to the reader

• Data on smoking are measured among Canadians aged 15 years and over who have identified themselves as current smoker (either daily smokers or occasional smokers).^{Footnote 1}
• Indigenous populations consist of First Nations, Métis and Inuit.
• G7 countries include seven of the world's industrialized countries, namely the United States, Japan, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Canada that form an informal discussion group and economic partnership.

For more information on smoking, please see:

• Government of Canada
• Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey
• World Health Organization

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