US Smoking Rate Drops Below 10% for First Time Ever

Smoking a cigarette has officially become uncool in America, and the numbers prove it.

New research published this week in NEJM Evidence shows that only 9.9% of U.S. adults smoked cigarettes in 2024. That's roughly 25 million Americans and marks the first time the smoking rate has ever dropped to single digits.

The transformation is stunning when you look back. In 1964, when the U.S. surgeon general first issued a report outlining the dangers of smoking, 42% of adults reported lighting up. Following that landmark report and widespread public health campaigns, the smoking rate declined steadily for decades.

The drop accelerated dramatically since the early 2000s, driven largely by younger generations who never picked up the habit in the first place. Scientists analyzed data from the National Health Interview Survey, a long-running annual poll of Americans' lifestyle habits conducted by the CDC.

They found the smoking rate fell from 10.8% in 2023 to 9.9% in 2024. If this trend continues, the U.S. could meet or even exceed the federal government's goal of cutting the rate to 6.1% by 2030.

The health impact of this decline cannot be overstated. Smoking increases the risk of cancer, particularly lung cancer, along with heart disease and other serious health issues. A 2025 report from the American Cancer Society estimated that reduced smoking prevented nearly four million deaths from lung cancer between 1970 and 2022.

The Bright Side

This victory shows what sustained public health efforts can achieve over time. Education campaigns, smoking restrictions in public places, and changing social attitudes have made cigarettes far less appealing to new generations. What once seemed like a permanent fixture of American culture has been transformed into something most people actively avoid.

The researchers note that continued success requires maintaining federal support for tobacco prevention programs. While cigarette use has plummeted, the rate of cigar smoking and e-cigarette use hasn't changed much lately, with 14.8% of young adults ages 18 to 24 using e-cigarettes.

Overall, 18.8% of adults still used some tobacco product in 2024, totaling about 47.7 million Americans. The study authors argue that comprehensive tobacco control policies need to address all products, not just cigarettes.

However, other recent research suggests even vaping may be losing its appeal among younger people, hinting that this trend could continue downward too.

Fewer smokers means healthier lungs, longer lives, and millions of families who won't lose loved ones to preventable diseases.