The prevalence of daily smoking among Australians aged 14 and above has plummeted to an unprecedented low, reaching just 5.6% in 2025, as revealed by the latest findings from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey. This significant reduction from the 8.3% reported in 2022–23 places Australia on the cusp of meeting its ambitious goal of lowering daily smoking rates to 5% or less by the year 2030.
The survey also highlighted that a record number of Australians in the 14-and-over age group have never engaged in smoking, with the proportion exceeding two-thirds. This achievement, however, is tempered by a concurrent rise in the use of illicit tobacco products. The data indicates that approximately 34% of current smokers admitted to using illicit tobacco, a notable increase from 16.7% in the previous survey cycle. Among those who purchased illicit tobacco, more than half sourced it from tobacconists.
In addition to the trends in smoking and illicit tobacco use, the survey revealed a decline in overall nicotine consumption, dropping from 17.4% to 15.2%. Meanwhile, vaping, particularly among young adults aged 18 to 24, saw a reduction from 20.6% to 14%. Despite these declines, the survey noted a growing inclination among younger Australians towards using nicotine pouches and snus, highlighting shifting patterns in nicotine consumption.
Public health experts are interpreting these findings as a signal for the necessity of bolstering efforts against illicit tobacco trade while maintaining robust tobacco control strategies. These include enhancing public education initiatives, implementing licensing reforms, and imposing stricter regulations on tobacco sales. The experts emphasize that such measures are crucial to sustaining the downward trend in smoking rates and addressing emerging challenges in nicotine use.