Tobacco smoking remains prevalent in Australia – current estimates suggest that we have about two million adult smokers.

This number has fallen in recent decades as the enormity of problems associated with smoking have become clearer.

Nevertheless, according to analyses from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in 2019, the proportion of pack-a-day (20 cigarettes or more) smokers increased with age.¹

Two in five people (approximately 40%) in age groups 40 and over smoked more than 20 cigarettes per day, which compared to one in five (approximately 20%) people aged 18–39. It’s ironic that smoking is more prevalent among older people at higher risk of tobacco-induced death.