The Scottish Health Survey 2022: summary report

Chapter 7. Smoking

The proportion of adults who reported themselves to be current smokers in 2022 was 15%. While this is higher than the figure reported in 2021 (11%), the 2022 figure is in line with the general downward trend in previous years (17% in 2019.)

• 2003: 28%
• 2008: 26%
• 2009: 25%
• 2010: 25%
• 2011: 23%
• 2012: 25%
• 2013: 21%
• 2014: 22%
• 2015: 21%
• 2016: 21%
• 2017: 18%
• 2018: 19%
• 2019: 17%
• 2021: 11%
• 2022: 15%

In 2022, almost two thirds of adults reported never having smoked or previously having smoked only occasionally, an overall increase from 50% in 2003.

• 2022: 63%
• 2003: 50%

As was the case with current smoking rates, an overall decrease in the mean number of cigarettes smoked by current smokers has been recorded, with a peak of 15.3 per day recorded among all current smokers in 2003.

• 2003: 15.3
• 2022: 11.4

In 2022, smoking was most prevalent for those aged 45-54, and least prevalent for those aged 75 and over. Significantly more men (18%) than women (13%) reported that they were currently smokers.

• 16-24: 17%
• 25-34: 17%
• 35-44: 15%
• 45-54: 19%
• 55-64: 15%
• 65-74: 14%
• 75+: 6%

The number of cigarettes consumed per day tended to increase with age up to a peak of 15.6 among those aged 65-74.

In 2022, the age-standardised prevalence of current cigarette smoking remained highest (25%) among adults living in the most deprived areas, and lowest among those living in the least deprived areas (7%). This continued the trend observed since 2003, when smoking prevalence was 45% in most deprived areas and 17% in least deprived areas.

• Most deprived
  • 2022: 25%
  • 2003: 45%
• Least deprived
  • 2022: 7%
  • 2003: 17%

In 2022, the age-standardised mean number of cigarettes smoked per day was highest among adults living in most deprived areas and lowest among those living in least deprived areas.

• Most deprived 2022: 13
• Least deprived 2022: 10

In 2022, a small proportion (3%) of children were reported to be exposed to second-hand smoke in their own home.

• 2022: 3%

The 2022 figure represents a slight but not significant increase compared with 2021 but an overall decrease of nine percentage points since 2012.

• 2012: 12%
• 2021: 2%
• 2022: 3%

Current Nicotine Vapour Product (NVP) use increased in 2022 among all adults to 10%, having remained in the range 5 - 7% between 2014 and 2021.

• 2014: 5%
• 2019: 7%
• 2022: 10%

The use of NVPs was most prevalent among those aged 16-24. 15% of adults aged 16-24 reported that they currently used NVPs and usage was lowest among those aged 75 and older: 1% reported that they currently use NVPs.

• 16-24: 15%
• 25-34: 13%
• 35-44: 10%
• 45-54: 12%
• 55-64: 8%
• 65-74: 6%
• 75+: 1%

4% of all adults reported using both NVPs and cigarettes, while 5% reported current use of NVPs and previous use of cigarettes.

Use of NVPs tended to decrease with age, with dual use of NVPs and cigarettes and use of NVPs with no history of smoking highest among those aged 16-24 (7% and 3% respectively) and lowest among those aged 75 and older (<1% and 0% respectively).

Currently vape & smoke cigarettes:

• 16-24: 7%
• 25-34: 4%
• 35-44: 4%
• 45-54: 4%
• 55-64: 3%
• 65-74: 2%
• 75+: <1%

Currently vape, no history of smoking cigarettes

• 16-24: 3%
• 25-34: 1%
• 35-44: 1%
• 45-54: 1%
• 55-64: <1%
• 65-74: 1%
• 75+: 0%

A higher proportion of men than women had never tried to stop smoking in 2021/2022 combined (28% men; 16% women), while a lower proportion of men than women had tried to stop smoking three times or more (37% and 49% respectively).