Smoking prevalence by province
In 2020, there was significant variation in smoking prevalence by province17 (Figure 2.1). Current smoking rates ranged from a low of 7.7% in British Columbia to a high of 14.8% in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Between 1999 and 2020, smoking prevalence decreased substantially in all provinces, although not consistently (Table 2.1). There was considerable variation by province in the magnitude of this decline, although most saw their smoking rate fall by half or more during this time.
Download Table 2.1 Smoking prevalence by province, 1999-2020 (.xlsx)
Cigarette consumption by province
In 2020, average daily cigarette consumption estimates ranged from 10.2 cigarettes per day (CPD) in Manitoba to 18.6 CPD in Nova Scotia (Figure 2.2). However, overall differences in provincial estimates were not statistically significant.18
Between 1999 and 2020, average daily cigarette consumption appears to have decreased in nearly all provinces, although with little to no progress (and even some increases) in the most recent years in many provinces (Table 2.2). The magnitude of this decline varied by province, with the largest decrease observed in Quebec (from 19.1 in 1999 to 11.8 CPD in 2020).