Smoking in the provinces

Smoking prevalence by province

Bar chart showing smoking prevalence by province in 2020. Trends described in text. Data table below with 95% confidence intervals.

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.

Figure 2.1 data table with 95% confidence intervals

Figure 2.1: Smoking prevalence* (%) by province, 2020
Canada 10.3 [9.5-11.2]
British Columbia 7.7 [5.8-9.5]
Alberta 8.9 [6.1-11.7]
Saskatchewan 11.2 [7.3-15.0]
Manitoba 13.0 [8.9-17.1]
Ontario 9.9 [8.5-11.3]
Quebec 12.2 [10.2-14.3]
New Brunswick 9.7 [10.0-6.2-13.2]
Nova Scotia 13.7 [9.7-17.7]
Prince Edward Island 11.6 [7.0-16.2]
Newfoundland & Labrador 14.8 [9.6-19.9]

*Includes daily and non-daily smokers.

Data source: Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey, 2020.

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).

Figure 2.2 data table with 95% confidence intervals

Figure 2.2: Average daily cigarette consumption* (mean cigarettes per day) by province, 2020
Canada 12.5 [11.3-13.7]
British Columbia 14.4 [9.6-19.2]
Alberta 14.5 [7.8-21.2]
Saskatchewan 12.0 [9.4-14.6]
Manitoba 10.2 [7.5-12.9]
Ontario 11.4 [10.1-12.8]
Quebec 11.8 [9.7-13.8]
New Brunswick 14.6 [11.4-17.8]
Nova Scotia 18.6 [8.7-28.6]
Prince Edward Island !
Newfoundland & Labrador 13.3 [7.7-18.9]

*Among daily smokers.
! Estimate suppressed due to unacceptable quality.

Data source: Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey, 2020.