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Young people smoking less
statistikk
2013-02-05T10:00:00.000Z
Health
en
royk, Tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, smokers, daily smokers, tobacco use, snuff usersHealth conditions and living habits, Health
false

Tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, 2012

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Young people smoking less

The proportion of daily smokers among the 16-24 year-olds continues to decrease, and in 2012 the figure was just 7 per cent.  In the adult population as a whole, 16 per cent smoked on a daily basis. The use of snuff was almost unchanged from the previous year.

Smokers and snuffersPublished 5 February 2013
2002200720112012
Total
Percentage daily smokers29221716
Percentage occasional smokers11101110
Takes snuff daily - per cent..89
Takes snuff occasionally - per cent..54
Males
Percentage daily smokers29221716
Percentage occasional smokers12101111
Takes snuff daily - per cent..1314
Takes snuff occasionally - per cent..76
Females
Percentage daily smokers28221816
Percentage occasional smokers119109
Takes snuff daily - per cent..34
Takes snuff occasionally - per cent..32

Source: Statistics Norway

Proportion of daily smokers, by age group. 2000-2012. Three year moving average inc. 2008. Per cent.

The proportion of daily smokers has been decreasing for many years. Since the turn of the millennium, the proportion has nearly halved, resulting in only 16 per cent of 16-74 year-olds smoking daily. The corresponding proportion for the youngest group - 16-24 year-olds -  is now only a quarter of the level in 2000. The second youngest group has shown a marked decrease in recent years and now has the second lowest proportion of daily smokers. During the whole period, the 45-55 year-olds have been the heaviest smokers.

The proportion of people smoking occasionally has been much more stable, varying between 9 and 11 per cent in the last 15 years. In 2012, 10 per cent of people aged 16-74 years and 13 per cent in the youngest age group were occasional smokers.

Many occasional smokers use snuff

The use of snuff since 2008 seems to be increasing slightly. In 2008, six per cent of respondents used snuff on a daily basis, compared with nine per cent in 2012. Four per cent reported using snuff occasionally in both 2008 and 2012.

Snuff use among daily smokers is quite similar to the adult population as a whole. The main difference is that somewhat fewer use snuff on a daily basis, while more are occasional users. However, snuff use is rather common among occasional smokers. One in five use snuff daily and eight per cent occasionally. One explanation could be that use of snuff replaces some of the urge for smoking.

Change of method from 2009Open and readClose

Statistics Norway has conducted surveys on smoking habits since 1973, and these are now part of Statistics Norway’s Travel and holiday survey. In the course of a year, four surveys with a total net sample of almost 4 500 are carried out. The results are published for the year as a whole. Since 2008, the survey also includes questions about Norwegians’ use of snuff on a quarterly basis.

From 1973 to 2008, three-year moving averages were estimated. A moving average is calculated as the average of results from three consecutive years, and this represents the middle of the three years. From 2009, Statistics Norway has decided to use the actual figures for each year.