Contains key statistics and information about smoking and e-cigarette use (vaping) in NSW

Released: July 2024

Key statistics

Smoking rates in NSW have remained stable for the last 3 years after declining for several decades. Less than 1 in 10 adults (8.2%) smoked daily in NSW in 2023.

E-cigarette use (vaping) is increasing in NSW, particularly in young adults. About 1 in 10 (10%) of young adults aged 16-24 years were daily e-cigarette users in combined years 2022-2023 (years were combined to improve reliability for this single age group).

Overview

Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of disease and premature death in NSW. It is associated with an increased risk of respiratory and cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Smoking can also harm others, either through exposure to second hand smoke, or the harmful effects on unborn babies of smoking during pregnancy.

There is growing evidence that e-cigarettes are harmful, especially for young people. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine (even though it may not be listed on the label), placing people who vape at risk of long-term addiction.

When someone uses an e-cigarette, the substance they inhale can contain over 200 chemicals, including formaldehyde (found in disinfectant and known to cause cancer), arsenic (found in poisons and known to damage internal organs), mercury (found in batteries and known to damage fertility), and solvents.

Other health harms associated with using e-cigarettes include nicotine poisoning, throat irritation, breathlessness, cough, dizziness, headaches, nausea and lung damage.

NSW Health is committed to reducing the prevalence and harms of smoking and e-cigarette use in our community, and protecting the public from the harmful effects of second-hand tobacco smoke and e-cigarette aerosol.

Read through this page to learn more about tobacco smoking and e-cigarette use in NSW. Click on the following images and the indicators listed in the A-Z directory below to see more detailed NSW data on this topic.

Smoking and e-cigarette use

Data for Hunter New England and Central Coast PHN

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