Smoking rates at record low: New findings fuel Australia’s tobacco tax debate
Public health groups say the drop in smokers vindicates a tough approach, but the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's findings are not all positive.
Despite the heated debate around current tobacco taxes fueling organised crime, smoking rates in Australia have fallen to the lowest level on record.
Newly released Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures show 5.6% of people over 14 said they smoked daily in 2025. This is down from 8.3% two years ago. The figure was 19.5% back in 2001.
In real terms, it suggests 1.3 million Australians are daily smokers, down from three million in 2001.
The fall was branded a “major public health achievement” by the Australian Council on Smoking and Health, which said it showed the country’s hard line against smoking was working to save lives.
