Survey data shows a record low

Australia’s smoking rates fell to a record low in 2025, with just 5.6% of people aged 14 and over smoking daily, down from 8.3% in 2022-23, according to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey.

That result puts Australia well beyond its target of 10% or fewer adults smoking by 2025. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare released the survey on 17 July 2026.

More than two-thirds of Australians aged 14 and over, or 68.7%, have never smoked. That is the highest level recorded in the survey.

Cancer Council Australia said decades of tobacco control and nicotine policy helped drive the decline. Its list included plain packaging, taxation, advertising restrictions and public education.

Chief executive Jacinta Reddan said the figures should end calls to weaken tobacco controls because of illicit trade. She also noted smoking still kills 66 Australians a day.

“Illicit tobacco requires an enforcement and regulatory response, not a tax cut; we need to continue reducing demand for tobacco through proven public health measures while governments and authorities need to work together to disrupt the criminal networks supplying illicit products,” Reddan said.

At the same time, 34% of people who currently smoke reported recent illicit tobacco use in 2025. That was up from 16.7% in 2022-23.

Among smokers who bought branded illicit tobacco, 57% bought it from a tobacconist. Reddan argued that cutting tobacco tax would not stop criminal operators.

Jacinta Reddan on illicit tobacco

Vaping also fell among younger adults. In the 18 to 24 age group, current vaping dropped from 20.6% to 14%.

Meanwhile, daily vaping stayed stable across all age groups in 2025. That broke the rising pattern seen in earlier surveys.

For the first time, the survey measured nicotine pouches and traditional snus. Among 18 to 24-year-olds, 8.4% used pouches and 3.8% used snus.

Cancer Council Australia warned those products are gaining ground with younger Australians. However, the same 2025 survey showed smoking and some vaping measures moving down.

The National Drug Strategy Household Survey runs every three years. Researchers collected responses from more than 17,500 Australians aged 14 and over between June and December 2025.

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