Key Points
- Adult cigarette smoking fell to 9.9% in 2024, the first time it has dropped below 10% in U.S. history.
- Approximately 25.2 million adults still smoke cigarettes.
- Nearly 18.8% of adults use at least one tobacco product.
- Combustible tobacco use declined to 12.6% in 2024, down from 13.5% in 2023.
- E-cigarette and cigar use remained largely unchanged year over year.
- Young adults were more likely to use e-cigarettes than traditional cigarettes.
2Firsts
March 20, 2026
According to Fox News——Cigarette smoking among U.S. adults has reached its lowest recorded level, according to a new study analyzing nationally representative data.
The analysis, published in NEJM Evidence, examined responses from more than 29,500 adults in 2023 and 32,600 adults in 2024 who participated in the National Health Interview Survey. Researchers found that 9.9% of adults reported smoking cigarettes in 2024, down from 10.8% the previous year.
This marks the first time adult smoking prevalence in the United States has fallen into the single digits, bringing the country closer to the Healthy People 2030 public health target of reducing adult smoking to 6.1%.
However, tobacco use remains widespread. An estimated 25.2 million adults continue to smoke cigarettes, while approximately 47.7 million adults — 18.8% of the population — reported using at least one tobacco product.
The decline in cigarette smoking contributed to a reduction in overall combustible tobacco use, which includes cigarettes and cigars. Combustible use fell to 12.6% in 2024, compared with 13.5% in 2023.
In contrast, the use of non-combustible products such as e-cigarettes did not significantly change between the two years. Researchers emphasized that stable rates of cigar and e-cigarette use indicate a need for comprehensive tobacco control policies covering all nicotine products.
Nicotine use patterns also varied across demographic groups. Men reported significantly higher tobacco use than women, with over 24% of men using at least one tobacco product compared with nearly 14% of women.
Certain occupational groups, including workers in agriculture, construction and manufacturing, showed higher rates of tobacco use. Higher prevalence was also observed among rural residents, individuals with lower income, people with disabilities, and those with a general educational development (GED) certificate.
Among young adults aged 18 to 24, e-cigarette use was substantially higher than cigarette smoking. Nearly 15% reported using e-cigarettes, compared with 3.4% who smoked cigarettes.
Public health experts note that the findings reflect a transformation in nicotine consumption rather than a disappearance of addiction. Health authorities continue to emphasize that no tobacco product — including e-cigarettes — is considered safe.
Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States and accounts for approximately one in three cancer deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Researchers highlighted the continued importance of smoke-free laws, tobacco taxation, and access to cessation support in sustaining declines in smoking rates.
The study acknowledged several limitations, including reliance on self-reported data and definitional changes in smokeless tobacco categories over time.
Image source: Screenshot from a Fox News video
