New research has revealed the US states with the most smokers, with West Virginia coming out on top.
The study by vape manufacturer YoCan analyzed data from the CDC and America’s Health Rankings to see which states had the highest percentage of adults who reported smoking at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and who currently smoke daily or some days.
It found that the state of West Virginia has the highest percentage of consistent smokers. Overall, 20.47% of adults reported smoking daily or some days. This is split up into 22.60% for adults aged 18-44, 26.20% for adults aged 45-64, and 12.6% for adults aged 65 and over.
Ohio comes in sixth on the list, with 16.6% of adults in the state reportedly being consistent smokers. This is made up of a percentage of 17.40% for ages 18 to 44, 21% for ages 45 to 64, and 11.40% for ages 65 and over.
Coming in second is the southern state of Arkansas, which comes in with an overall average percentage for smokers of 18.17%. 19.10% of adults aged 18-44 reported smoking daily or some days, and this percentage sat at 24% for those 45-64, and then 11.40% for those aged 65 and over.
The southeastern state of Tennessee comes in third on the list. 18% of adults aged 18-44 reported consistently smoking, and for adults 45-64, this was a percentage of 24.10%, and for those aged 65 and over, it was 12.10%, coming out to an overall average of 18.07%.
Fourth place goes to Kentucky, which comes in with an overall average percentage of smokers of 17.20%. This is split into 14.90% for adults aged 18-44, 25% for adults aged 45-64, and 11.70% for those aged 65 and over.
Rounding out the top five is another southern state in, Mississippi, where overall, 17.03% of adults reported consistently smoking. This is comprised of 17.20% for adults aged 18-44, 21% for those aged 45-64, and 12.90% for those aged 65 and over.
With quitting smoking being a common new years resolution, it’s important to know that there are many tips you can use to help. Using stop–smoking aids would be a main one, as well as avoiding triggers, keeping busy, exercising, and building a support network which are all viable ways of doing so.
| Rank | State | Percentage of adults aged 18-44 who reported smoking at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and currently smoke daily or some days | Percentage of adults aged 45-64 who reported smoking at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and currently smoke daily or some days | Percentage of adults aged 65+ who reported smoking at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and currently smoke daily or some days | Overall average |
| 1 | West Virginia | 22.60% | 26.20% | 12.60% | 20.47% |
| 2 | Arkansas | 19.10% | 24.00% | 11.40% | 18.17% |
| 3 | Tennessee | 18.00% | 24.10% | 12.10% | 18.07% |
| 4 | Kentucky | 14.90% | 25.00% | 11.70% | 17.20% |
| 5 | Mississippi | 17.20% | 21.00% | 12.90% | 17.03% |
| 6 | Ohio | 17.40% | 21.00% | 11.40% | 16.60% |
| 7 | Louisiana | 15.80% | 21.60% | 12.00% | 16.47% |
| 8 | Missouri | 18.70% | 18.80% | 10.50% | 16.00% |
| 9 | Indiana | 15.80% | 21.10% | 10.50% | 15.80% |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 15.80% | 18.80% | 10.90% | 15.17% |
Commenting on the findings, Louis Lou, a spokesperson for YoCan, said: “The overall trend here is that adults aged 45-64 smoke more consistently than younger or older generations. This could be for several reasons, for example, health concerns for older generations, and then alternatives to smoking like e-cigarettes and vaping being readily available to younger generations. In terms of location, the trend here is that smoking is most common in the south of the US, with all except Ohio and Missouri being considered to be southern.”
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Source: America’s Health Rankings analysis of CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2024
