WHO smokes? What populations in the US smoke?

Approximately 43.8 million individuals in our country smoke cigarettes. To give a better perspective, 1 in 5 adults are considered smokers.  So, who are these people that are considered smokers? According to the CDC, to be considered a current smoker, you must have smoked 10 cigarettes in your life or at the point of the interview you must report smoking every day or often (every couple of days).

In the United States, approximately 22% of men and 17% of women smoke. The age group that smokes the most is the 25-44 year old group. Within this age group, 21.4% of the population are smokers. The largest population of smokers by race is the American Indians at 31.5%. This group is followed by white non-Hispanics at 20.6%. Smokers by education may be one of the more shocking statistics. 45% of adults with GED diplomas smoke cigarettes. Of those who have postgraduate college degrees, only a mere 5% smoke. This also corresponds to rates by socioeconomic status. Those below the level of poverty have a larger percent of smokers than the group above poverty level. Region also appears to have an effect. 21.8% of those in the Midwest and 21% of those in the South smoke. To be more specific, states with smoking rates between 22-26.8% include Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. 

Sources:

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/adult_data/cig_smoking/

http://www.cdc.gov/VitalSigns/AdultSmoking/index.html#StateInfo

Caitlin B. H.