Graph US Adult Smoking Prevalence by Race and Sex, 1965 to 2023: Text Alternative
The y-axis on this graph measures prevalence from 0% to 60%, and the x-axis shows time in years, 1965 at the 0 point, then in 10-year intervals from 1970 to 2020. Curves show the prevalence of smoking for 4 groups of people: Black men, Black women, White men, and White women.
Black Males: Smoking Prevalence from 1965 to 2023
In 1965, the smoking prevalence of Black males was just under 60%, and in 2023, the prevalence was less than 20%.
Consistent declines in smoking prevalence occurred across these years:
- 59% to 54% decrease from 1965 to about 1974
- 54% to 44% decrease from 1974 to about 1979
- 44% to 40% decrease from about 1979 to about 1985
- 40% to 33% decrease from about 1985 to 1990
- 33% to 26% decrease from 1990 to 2000
- 26% to 23% decrease from 2000 to 2010
From 2010 to 2020, there were small increases and decreases in smoking prevalence for Black males:
- A 20% steady prevalence, from about 2016 to 2018
- 20% to 14% sharp decline around 2018 to 2021
- 14% to 18% sharp increase around 2022
- 18% to 15% decrease in 2023
White Males: Smoking Prevalence from 1965 to 2023
In 1965, the smoking prevalence of White males was 50%, and in 2023, the prevalence was about 13%.
Consistent declines in smoking prevalence occurred across these years:
- 50% to 28% decrease from 1965 to 1990
- 28% to 25% decrease from 1990 to 2000
- 25% to 21% decrease from 2000 to 2010
- 22% to 17%, a sharp decrease, from 2010 to about 2012
- 17% to 18% small, brief increase from 2012 to 2013
- A 20% steady prevalence from 2013 to 2018
- 20% to 18% decline from 2018 to 2019
- A 15% steady prevalence from 2019 to 2020
- 15% to 13% decrease from 2020 to 2023
White Females: Smoking Prevalence from 1965 to 2023
In 1965, the smoking prevalence for White females was about 34%, and in 2023, it was about 11%.
Consistent declines in smoking prevalence for White females occurred across the years, but they were more moderate/less sharp compared to decreases in male prevalence.
- 34% to 28% decrease from 1965 to 1985
- 28% to 24% decrease from 1985 to 1990
- A 24% steady prevalence from 1990 to 2000
- 24% to 22% decrease from 2000 to 2005
- 21% to 19% slow decrease from 2005 to 2010
- A 19% steady prevalence from 2005 to 2010
From 2010 to 2023, there were small increases and decreases in smoking prevalence as part of the decline from 23% to about 15%. In 2014, there was a slight increase to 19%, but by 2023, the prevalence rate had decreased to 13%.
Black Females: Smoking Prevalence from 1965 to 2023
In 1965, the smoking prevalence for Black females was about 32%, and in 2023, it had declined to 9%.
There were sharp up-and-down cycles of smoking prevalence from 1965 to about 1990, sometimes rising above the prevalence for White females.
From 1965 to about 1974, prevalence rose from 32% to 36%.
From 1974 to 1979, prevalence declined from 36% to 31%.
From 1979 to about 1985, prevalence remained steady at 31%.
From 1985 to 1990, prevalence dropped from 31% to 21%, where it leveled off until almost 2000.
From 2000 to 2001 prevalence declined from 21% to 18%, where it stayed until 2011, when it declined to about 15%.
From 2010 to 2023, the prevalence had blips up and down. From 2020 to 2022, the rate increased from 10% to about 11% but was back to 9% in 2023.
