Britain’s smokers under 20 percent of population

The incidence of smoking among Great Britain’s adult (16 years of age or older) population fell from 20 percent during 2012 to 19 percent last year, according to a recently-released report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

The incidence of smoking among men was unchanged at 22 percent, but the proportion of women smokers fell from 19 percent during 2012 to 17 percent last year.

Great Britain has seen a long-term, gradual decline in smoking with the overall incidence having fallen from 46 percent during 1974.

According to the ONS, not only have fewer people been taking up smoking, but more smokers have been quitting.

The proportion of adult cigarette smokers is highest among unemployed people, people working in routine and manual occupations and those with lower educational qualifications: all factors associated with poverty.

But unmarried people are almost twice as likely as are married people to be cigarette smokers.

Meanwhile, the ONS said that electronic cigarettes were almost exclusively used by smokers and ex-smokers. ‘Almost none of those who had never smoked cigarettes were e-cigarette users,’ it said.