Quit success among males and females

Bar chart showing percentage of current smokers and recent quitters who attempted to quit in the past 12 months and were abstinent at the time of survey, among males and females, in 2020. Trends described in text. Data table below with 95% confidence intervals.

In 2020, while the percentage of females who attempted to quit in the past 12 months and were abstinent at the time of the survey is not reportable due to low numbers, there was no significant difference between males and females in this measure of quit success32 (Figure 5.14).

There is considerable variability in this measure due to smaller sample sizes among sub-groups.

Since 2004, success in remaining abstinent from smoking has fluctuated among both males and females, with no clear pattern emerging (Figure 5.15).

Figure 5.14 data table with 95% confidence intervals
Figure 5.14: Percentage of current smokers and recent quitters* who attempted to quit in the past 12 months, and were abstinent for at least one month at the time of survey, among males and females, 2020
  Males Females
2020 15.5 [9.1-21.9] !

*Includes current smokers and former smokers who had quit in the past 12 months.
! Estimate suppressed due to unacceptable quality.
Data source: Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey, 2020.

Line graph showing percentage of current smokers and recent quitters who attempted to quit in the past 12 months and were abstinent at the time of survey, among males and females, from 2004 to 2020. Trends described in text. Data table below with 95% confidence intervals.

Figure 5.15 data table with 95% confidence intervals
Figure 5.15: Percentage of current smokers and recent quitters* who attempted to quit in the past 12 months who were abstinent for at least one month at the time of survey, among males and females, 2004-2020
  Males Females
2004 9.9 [6.6-13.2] 11.9 [8.0-15.9]
2005 14.5 [10.2-18.7] 14.0 [9.0-19.0]
2006 9.8 [6.5-13.1] 11.2 [8.0-14.3]
2007 12.0 [8.0-16.0] 13.0 [9.2-16.9]
2008 12.0 [7.7-16.4] 9.3 [5.7-12.9]
2009 8.4 [5.4-11.5] 13.2 [9.2-17.2]
2010 10.8 [7.1-14.6] 9.1 [5.6-12.6]
2011 8.0 [5.3-10.8] 13.9 [9.0-18.7]
2012 15.4 [10.4-20.5] 9.5 [6.2-12.9]
2013 11.4 [6.3-16.6] 10.7 [5.0-16.4]
2015 9.5 [6.0-13.1] 17.7 [11.1-24.2]
2017 16.0 [8.4- 23.6] 7.8 [3.3-12.3]
2019 11.3 [7.2-15.4] 11.5 [6.4-16.7]
2020 15.5 [9.1-21.9] !

*Includes current smokers and former smokers who had quit in the past 12 months.
! Estimate for femals in 2020 suppressed due to unacceptable quality.
Data source: Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey, 2004-2012; Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey, 2013, 2015, 2017; Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey, 2019, 2020.