Jennifer Mendoza
Research expert covering health, pharma and medtech
Smoking in Australia - statistics & facts
Australia has seen a significant decrease in the smoking rate over the past decades. The rate of daily smokers in Australia was approximately eight percent in 2023, down considerably from around one-quarter of the population in 1991. This rate represents one of the lowest smoking rates among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries. Australia has pioneered the fight against smoking by implementing strict anti-smoking laws, such as banning smoking in all public enclosed spaces, indoor workplaces, public transport, and some public outdoor spaces. In addition to restrictions on where people in Australia can smoke in public, the tobacco and smoking industry in the country has also been subjected to strict plain packaging laws and increasing tobacco taxes to discourage smoking.
