Trending Now - U.S. Adult Smoking Rate Reaches Record Low Levels

WHO:

AP News - Yolonda Richardson, president and chief executive of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy and research organization.

WHAT:

AP News - The cigarette smoking rate among U.S. adults dropped to an all-time low, with 1 in 11 adults identifying as current smokers.

AP News - The percentage of current adult smokers fell to 9% last year, marking the first time it dropped below 10%.

AP News - The use of electronic cigarettes among adults has remained steady at about 7% in 2025.

AP News - The CDC survey included responses from more than 24,200 adults.

WHERE:

AP News - The findings were based on a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States.

WHEN:

AP News - The survey data was released this week.

AP News - The percentage of current adult smokers was reported as 9% for last year.

AP News - The percentage of current adult smokers fell below 10% for the first time in 2024.

WHY:

AP News - The decline in smoking rates is attributed to factors such as cigarette taxes, tobacco product price hikes, smoking bans, public education campaigns, and changes in social acceptability.

HOW:

AP News - Current cigarette smoking is defined by the CDC as smoking at least 100 cigarettes in a lifetime and now smoking every day or some days.

AP News - Richardson noted that smoking-prevention efforts have been hindered by cuts made during Trump’s administration, which eliminated the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health and the “Tips from Former Smokers” advertising campaign.

(UPDATED May 29, 2026 23:23 UTC)

The cigarette smoking rate among U.S. adults has dropped to an all-time low, with only 1 in 11 adults now identifying as current smokers, according to a recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The percentage of current adult smokers fell to 9% last year, marking the first time it has dipped below 10%, while the use of electronic cigarettes among adults has remained steady at about 7% in 2025. Yolonda Richardson, president and chief executive of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, highlighted that smoking-prevention efforts have faced challenges due to cuts made during Trump’s administration, which included the elimination of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health.