Smoking rate in the North East is lower than in the South

The region saw the biggest and fastest fall in smoking rates, whereas some areas of England the smoking rates have ‘stalled.’

The data is taken from the Smoking Toolkit Study data from 368,057 adults in England between 2006 and 2024.

Research found that from 2006 and 2024, smoking rates in the North East fell from 27.4% to 16%, a fall of 11.4%.

Regional smoking trends prevalence between 2006 and 2024 (Image: Cancer Research UK) The North, as a whole, had a very high overall drop in smoking rates with the rate falling by −12.9. 

This is compared to just −5.3 in the South, and −9.2 in the Midlands.

The rates in the North East fell faster than the national average and helped to narrow “geographic inequalities in smoking prevalence”.

Lead author Dr Sarah Jackson, of UCL’s Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, said: “Until recently, smoking rates were highest in the north of England, but our study shows that regional differences have narrowed considerably over the past 18 years.

“Smoking rates fell most in northern regions, where dedicated regional tobacco control programmes have been largely concentrated.

“But across England progress has stalled in recent years, and in some regions smoking rates appear to be increasing.

“It’s vital that stop smoking services are made easily and equally available across the country, so that everyone – wherever they live – can access the right tools to quit for good.”

Smoking rates in the North and specifically North East have fallen dramatically (Image: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)

In October, the Office for National Statistics’ Annual Population Survey estimated about six million adults smoked cigarettes in the UK in 2023, the lowest proportion since records began in 2011.

Lead author Dr Sarah Jackson, of UCL’s Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care, said: “Until recently, smoking rates were highest in the north of England, but our study shows that regional differences have narrowed considerably over the past 18 years.

“Smoking rates fell most in northern regions, where dedicated regional tobacco control programmes have been largely concentrated.

“But across England, progress has stalled in recent years, and in some regions smoking rates appear to be increasing.

“It’s vital that stop smoking services are made easily and equally available across the country, so that everyone – wherever they live – can access the right tools to quit for good.”

In October, the Office for National Statistics’ Annual Population Survey estimated about six million adults smoked cigarettes in the UK in 2023, the lowest proportion since records began in 2011.