UK Smoking Statistics
Live UK smoking statistics 2026. Approximately 76,000 people die from smoking-related illnesses in the UK each year. Smoking costs the NHS £2.5 billion annually according to NHS and ONS data.
About These Statistics
Approximately 76,000 people die from smoking-related illnesses in the UK each year, according to NHS Digital and ONS Mortality Statistics. This equates to approximately 208 smoking-related deaths per day. Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death in the UK, causing lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and many other conditions.
Approximately 13% of UK adults currently smoke, down from approximately 45% in the 1970s. This represents approximately 6.4 million smokers in the UK. Smoking prevalence is highest among those aged 25-34 and those in lower socioeconomic groups. Rates have declined significantly since the introduction of the Health Act 2006 which banned smoking in enclosed public places.
Smoking costs the NHS approximately £2.5 billion per year in treatment costs, according to analysis by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) and the NHS. The wider economic cost of smoking — including lost productivity from illness and premature death — is estimated at approximately £13 billion per year. NHS Stop Smoking Services support approximately 500,000 quit attempts per year.
Approximately 35 billion cigarettes are smoked in the UK each year, generating approximately £12 billion in tobacco duty for the government. The government has increased tobacco duty annually as part of a duty escalator policy, though tobacco companies argue that high taxes drive consumers to illicit and hand-rolled tobacco.
The Tobacco and Vapes Bill, introduced in 2024, aims to create a smoke-free generation by gradually raising the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products. Those born after January 1 2009 will never legally be able to buy tobacco products in the UK. The legislation also introduces restrictions on vaping products to reduce their appeal to young people.
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on official UK government data
How many people die from smoking in the UK each year?
Approximately 76,000 people die from smoking-related illnesses in the UK each year according to NHS Digital and ONS statistics — approximately 208 per day. Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the UK, causing lung cancer (responsible for approximately 35,000 deaths per year), heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
How many people smoke in the UK in 2026?
Approximately 13% of UK adults currently smoke according to ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey data, equating to approximately 6.4 million smokers. Smoking prevalence has fallen significantly from approximately 45% in the 1970s. Rates are highest among those aged 25-34 and those in routine and manual occupations. Vaping has grown as an alternative, with approximately 4.5 million adults vaping.
How much does smoking cost the NHS?
Smoking costs the NHS approximately £2.5 billion per year in treatment costs for smoking-related illnesses according to ASH and NHS analysis. The wider economic cost including lost productivity is approximately £13 billion per year. NHS Stop Smoking Services are highly cost-effective interventions — the NHS spends approximately £1 per smoker per day on cessation services compared to approximately £7 per day on smoking-related treatment.