Profile
United States Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
United States Background
Profile
United States Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Data sourced: 2025.   Page updated: 2026-03-20

In the United States of America, smoking is allowed but tobacco products should follow some regulations. Under these regulations, health warnings on tobacco packaging including cigarettes are mandatory, the minimum legal age for their sales is 21 years, and there are no federal legal restrictions on smoking in public places. While tobacco advertising is regulated, not all forms of their advertising are banned. An excise tax of 32.16% with a total taxation rate of 37.36% is applied on cigarettes. Cigarettes can legally be sold with authorised documents. They may also be purchased through vending machines as well as through online channels. Importing cigarettes for trade is allowed with an appropriate import license.

Despite these control measures, prevalence data show that smoking remains an important public health issue in the United States. There were 39.8 million current smokers in the country in 2024. This represents an overall adult smoking prevalence of 14.1%, with higher prevalence among men (17.1%) than among women (11.1%). In comparison, the overall current smoking prevalence was 12.3% in 2022. The adult daily smoking prevalence was recorded to be 10.01% in 2020. Smoking-related mortality also remains significant in the country. In 2021, smoking resulted in 360,370 deaths, including 216,986 male deaths and 143,383 female deaths. This shows that smoking accounted for 10.38% of all deaths in the United States in 2021, with a higher rate among men (11.9%) than among women (8.7%).

Prevalence

Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 53.2 million 1A
2020 30.7 million 1B A
2024 39.8 million 1C
References:
  1. (1) WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition. (2) Department of Economic and Social Affairs (Ed.). (2019). World Population Prospects 2019 (Online Edition Rev. 1.; Population Division). United Nations. https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. National Health Interview Survey 2020 (NHIS). https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/2020nhis.htm
  3. WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Year Value Reference/Comment
1999 23.5% 1A A
2000 23.3% 1A A
2001 22.8% 1A A
2002 22.5% 1A A
2003 21.6% 1A A
2004 20.9% 1A A
2005 20.9% 1A A
2006 20.6% 1A A
2007 19.8% 1A A
2008 20.6% 1A A
2009 20.6% 1A A
2010 19.3% 1A A
2011 19% 1A A
2012 18.1% 1A A
2013 17.8% 1A A
2014 16.8% 1A A
2015 15.1% 1A A
2016 15.5% 1A A
2017 14% 1A A
2018 13.7% 1A A
2019 20% 1B
2019 14% 1A A
2020 12.5% 1A A
2020 12.4% 1C B
2020 18.3% 1D
2021 11.5% 1A A
2022 19.3% 1E C
2022 11.6% 1A A
2023 11% 1F A
2024 9.9% 1G A
2024 14.1% 1H
References:
  1. https://www.lung.org/research/trends-in-lung-disease/tobacco-trends-brief/overall-smoking-trends
  2. WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
  3. National Health Interview Survey 2020 (NHIS). https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/2020nhis.htm
  4. WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
  5. WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
  6. https://ustobaccoatlas.cancer.org/
  7. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhis/earlyrelease/earlyrelease202506.pdf
  8. WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Comments:
  1. Cohort: 18+.
  2. Published on https://rodutobaccotruth.blogspot.com/2021/10/cdc-releases-2020-adult-smoking-vaping.html?m=1&s=03
  3. Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 16.7% 1A
2020 10.77% 1B A
2020 15.2% 1C
2022 15.8% 1D B
2024 11.1% 1E
References:
  1. WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
  2. National Health Interview Survey 2020 (NHIS). https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/2020nhis.htm
  3. WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
  4. WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
  5. WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Comments:
  1. Published on https://rodutobaccotruth.blogspot.com/2021/10/cdc-releases-2020-adult-smoking-vaping.html?m=1&s=03
  2. Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
Year Value Reference/Comment
2019 23.2% 1A
2020 13.81% 1B A
2020 21.6% 1C
2022 22.9% 1D B
2024 17.1% 1E
References:
  1. WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, third edition. (2019). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/who-global-report-on-trends-in-prevalence-of-tobacco-use-2000-2025-third-edition.
  2. National Health Interview Survey 2020 (NHIS). https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/2020nhis.htm
  3. WHO. (2021). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025, fourth edition (4th ed). World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/348537
  4. WHO. (2024). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2030. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240088283
  5. WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Comments:
  1. Published on https://rodutobaccotruth.blogspot.com/2021/10/cdc-releases-2020-adult-smoking-vaping.html?m=1&s=03
  2. Current tobacco smoking rates among people aged 15 years and older, 2022 estimates. Crude adjusted prevalence (%).
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier 36.3 million 2A A
2020 23.3 million 2B B
References:
  1. Wang TW, Asman K, Gentzke AS, et al. Tobacco Product Use Among Adults � United States, 2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:1225�1232.
  2. National Health Interview Survey 2020 (NHIS). https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/2020nhis.htm
Comments:
  1. Prevalence figures are for 'current' (every day or some days) cigarette smokers rather than exclusively daily smokers. Prevalence for 'any combustible tobacco use' is higher at 16.7%
  2. Published on https://rodutobaccotruth.blogspot.com/2021/10/cdc-releases-2020-adult-smoking-vaping.html?m=1&s=03
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier 14% 2A A
2020 10.01% 2B B
References:
  1. Wang TW, Asman K, Gentzke AS, et al. Tobacco Product Use Among Adults � United States, 2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:1225�1232.
  2. National Health Interview Survey 2020 (NHIS). https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/2020nhis.htm
Comments:
  1. Prevalence figures are for 'current' (every day or some days) cigarette smokers rather than exclusively daily smokers. Prevalence for 'any combustible tobacco use' is higher at 16.7%
  2. Published on https://rodutobaccotruth.blogspot.com/2021/10/cdc-releases-2020-adult-smoking-vaping.html?m=1&s=03
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier 12.2% 2A A
2020 8.44% 2B B
References:
  1. Wang TW, Asman K, Gentzke AS, et al. Tobacco Product Use Among Adults � United States, 2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:1225�1232.
  2. National Health Interview Survey 2020 (NHIS). https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/2020nhis.htm
Comments:
  1. Prevalence figures are for 'current' (every day or some days) cigarette smokers rather than exclusively daily smokers. Prevalence for 'any combustible tobacco use' is higher at 16.7%
  2. Published on https://rodutobaccotruth.blogspot.com/2021/10/cdc-releases-2020-adult-smoking-vaping.html?m=1&s=03
Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier 15.8% 2A A
2020 10.07% 2B B
References:
  1. Wang TW, Asman K, Gentzke AS, et al. Tobacco Product Use Among Adults � United States, 2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:1225�1232.
  2. National Health Interview Survey 2020 (NHIS). https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/2020nhis.htm
Comments:
  1. Prevalence figures are for 'current' (every day or some days) cigarette smokers rather than exclusively daily smokers. Prevalence for 'any combustible tobacco use' is higher at 16.7%
  2. Published on https://rodutobaccotruth.blogspot.com/2021/10/cdc-releases-2020-adult-smoking-vaping.html?m=1&s=03
References:
  1. WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
  2. National Health Interview Survey 2020 (NHIS). https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/2020nhis.htm

Smoking-related mortality

Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 492,438 1A
2021 360,370 1B A
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 221,636 1A
2021 143,383 1B A
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 270,802 1A
2021 216,986 1B A
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 17.9% 1A
2021 10.38% 1B A
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 16.2% 1A
2021 8.7% 1B A
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
Year Value Reference/Comment
2016 19.3% 1A
2021 11.9% 1B A
References:
  1. The Tobacco Atlas. Available at: https://tobaccoatlas.org/topic/deaths/ Data source: GBD 2016 Risk Factors Collaborators.
  2. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
References:
  1. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021. https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
Comments:
  1. Number of tobacco-related deaths in the population in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.
  2. Percentage of tobacco-related deaths to deaths from all causes in 2021 by gender for all age groups. Tobacco-related mortality includes smoking tobacco use, smokeless tobacco use and second-hand smoke.

Product promotion

References:
  1. WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-usa.pdf?sfvrsn=c846c88a_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.

Regulation

References:
  1. WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-usa.pdf?sfvrsn=c846c88a_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
Comments:
  1. There are certain restrictions in place.

Availability

References:
  1. WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-usa.pdf?sfvrsn=c846c88a_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
  2. World Integrated Trade Solution. World Bank. Cigarettes containing tobacco imports by country in 2023. Available at: https://wits.worldbank.org/trade/comtrade/en/country/ALL/year/2023/tradeflow/Imports/partner/WLD/product/240220. Accessed: 27 November 2025.
Comments:
  1. There are certain restrictions in place.
  2. An import license is required.

Regulations and restrictions

References:
  1. WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-usa.pdf?sfvrsn=c846c88a_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.

Tax

0.32
1 A
2023
0.37
1 A
2023
References:
  1. WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-usa.pdf?sfvrsn=c846c88a_3&download=true. Accessed: 26 November 2025.
Comments:
  1. 0.32
  2. Total taxation rate: 37.36%
The GSTHR database is updated regularly by our team. However, please be aware that the information we provide does not constitute legal advice. We cannot guarantee that the information is up to date or accurate, as the regulatory status of different product categories can change at short notice and with little publicity. If you wish to check the legal status of use or possession of any safer nicotine product in a specific country or region, you should verify the information independently. If you have reason to think that the information supplied on the GSTHR is inaccurate, please contact us with details and any references and we will rectify any errors.