Current Cigarette Smoking Among Adults—United States 2011

November 9, 2012 / Vol. 61 / No. 44

MMWR Highlights

Current Cigarette Smoking Prevalence Among Adults, by Age Group (2011)

• In the 18–24 age group, 18.9% were current smokers
• In the 25–44 age group, 22.1% were current smokers
• In the 45–64 age group, 21.4% were current smokers
• In the 65 and older age group, 7.9% were current smokers

Current Cigarette Smoking Prevalence Among Adults, by Race/Ethnicity (2011)

• Current cigarette smoking prevalence among non-Hispanic Whites was 20.6%
• Current cigarette smoking prevalence among non-Hispanic Blacks was 19.4%
• Current cigarette smoking prevalence among Hispanics was 12.9%
• Current cigarette smoking prevalence among American Indian/Alaska Natives was 31.5%
• Current cigarette smoking prevalence among Asians was 9.9%

Current Cigarette Smoking Prevalence Among Adults, by Education and Poverty Status

• Prevalence was highest among those adults ≥ 25 years who had earned a General Education Development certificate (45.3%), and decreased with educational level
• Prevalence was higher among adults living below the Federal poverty line (20.9%) than those living at or above this line (17.9%)