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Statistics for Deaths Caused by Smoking

Although we continue to be bombarded with the no-nonsense message that smoking cigarettes increases the likelihood of premature death, a surprising number of people continue to puff away.

  1. Smoking Population

    • According to a 2006 survey by the National Center for Health Statistics and reported on the American Heart Association website, more than 26 million men and nearly 21 million women over age 18 in the United States are smokers.

    Young Smokers

    • According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 20 percent of high school students in the United States were smoking cigarettes in 2007. A CDC survey of middle school students that year showed that 6 percent had already starting to smoke.

    Increased Health Risks

    • The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) says cigarette smokers are at higher risk of heart attack, strokes, fatty buildup in the arteries, pulmonary disease (lung conditions) and several types of cancers.

    Smoking-Related Deaths

    • The U.S. Surgeon General says cigarette smoking accounts for more than 440,000 preventable deaths in the United States each year. According to the American Cancer Society, smoking is responsible for about 87 percent of lung cancer deaths.

    Other Cancers Caused by Cigarettes

    • The NIH say smoking is also linked to cancers of the voice box, mouth, throat and bladder.

    Secondhand Smoke

    • There is a strong connection between secondhand smoke and disease. The American Heart Association says every year, up to 70,000 deaths from heart and blood vessel disease are caused by other people's smoking.

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