Smoking Statistics

Here is some information about smoking statistics in the United States. This information has been gathered from the National Health Interview Survey, 2005.

Percentage of smokers by race:

• Whites (non-Hispanic)Men: 24 percent Women: 20 percent
• Blacks (non-Hispanic)Men: 27 percent Women: 17 percent
• Hispanic Men: 21 percent Women: 11 percent
• Asians Men: 21 percent Women: 6 percent
• American Indians Men: 38 percent Women: 27 percent

What's interesting here is the similar percent of male smokers (with the exception of American Indians), while the percent of female smokers varies dramatically.

If you look at these numbers by education level, you see that the higher level of education a person has, the less likely they are to smoke.

For instance, If you did not graduate from high school you are more likely to smoke than those who did--33 percent compared with 67 percent.

If you got a GED (took a test to graduate from high school), you are more likely to smoke--43 percent.

Compare these numbers with the percentage of college graduates who smoke--only 7 percent.

As far as income, 30 percent of those living below the poverty level smoke.

Interesting, but what has this got to do with you and your desire to quit?

Information is always empowering. Knowing more is better. Having said that, you are only interested in one person quitting--yourself! (Perhaps a loved one). So, numbers are fine, as long as you use them to empower you, not pigeonhole you.

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