Cigarette consumption by age

Bar chart showing average daily cigarette consumption by age, grades 7 to 9, from 2018 to 2019. Trends described in text. Data table below with 95% confidence intervals.

As shown in Figure 7.11, cigarette consumption among daily smokers appeared to be lower among students in grades 7 and 8 than in grade 9 in 2018-19.

Among daily smokers aged 15-19, cigarette consumption was not reportable in 2019 or 2020, but historical data between 1999 and 2017 is shown below. During this time, there appeared to be a net decrease in average daily cigarette consumption, but there has been considerable variation rather than a smooth downward trend, including some periods of increase (Figure 7.12).

Among smokers in grades 7-9, between 1994 and 2018-19, daily consumption varied by survey year, but remained between approximately 8 and 11 cigarettes (Figure 7.12).

Figure 7.10 data table with 95% confidence interval
Figure 7.10: Average daily cigarette consumption* by age, Grades 7-9, 2018-19
  Grades 7/8** Grade 9
Mean cigarettes per day 7.7 [6.0-9.5] 9.8 [7.1-12.5]

*Among daily smokers.
**Grades 7 and 8 combined due to low numbers.
Data source: Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey, 2018-19.

Bar chart showing average daily cigarette consumption by age group, grades 7 to 9 and age 15 to 19, from 1994 to 2018-19. Trends described in text. Data table below with 95% confidence intervals.

Figure 7.11 data table with 95% confidence intervals
Figure 7.11: Average daily cigarette consumption* (mean cigarettes per day) by age group, Grades 7-9 and age 15-19, 1994 to 2018-19
  Grades 7-9 Age 15-17 Age 18-19
1994 10.1 N/A N/A
1999 N/A 12.3 13.9
2000 N/A 11.5 13.9
2001 N/A 12.2 [10.8-13.7] 13.5 [12.4-14.6]
2002 10.0 [6.9-13.0] 12.1 [11.2-13.1] 13.8 [12.6-14.9]
2003 N/A 11.5 [10.2-12.8] 13.1 [11.9-14.3]
2004 (YSS 2004-05) 9.3 [8.3-10.4] 10.2 [9.1-11.2] 12.7 [10.8-14.5]
2005 N/A 9.2 [7.8-10.6] 12.2 [11.0-13.5]
2006 (YSS 2006-07) 9.2 [7.7-10.7] 12.1 [10.6-13.5] 12.4 [11.0-13.8]
2007 N/A 10.4 [9.0-11.7] 12.5 [10.9-14.0]
2008 (YSS 2008-09) 10.9 [8.4-13.4] 10.8 [9.6-12.0] 13.0 [11.6-14.4]
2009 N/A 11.8 [9.6-14.0] 11.1 [10.1-12.1]
2010 (YSS 2010-11) 8.7 [7.4-9.9] 11.0 [9.3-12.7] 12.0 [10.7-13.3]
2011 N/A 11.0 [9.2-12.7] 12.2 [10.0-14.3]
2012 (YSS 2012-13) 10.5 8.8 [7.2-10.4] 12.3 [9.5-15.1]
2013 N/A 8.5 [6.5-10.6] 9.5 [7.3-11.6]
2014 (YSS 2014-55) 8.8 [5.2-12.4] N/A N/A
2015 N/A ! 12.0 [8.9-15.1]
2016 (CSTADS 2016-17) 7.5 [5-10] N/A N/A
2017 N/A 6.9 [4.6-9.3] 10.6 [8.2-13.0]
2018 8.8 [7.2-10.3] N/A N/A
2019 N/A ! !

*Among daily smokers.
! Estimate suppressed due to unacceptable quality.
Estimates for age 15-19 in 2019 and 2020 suppressed due to unacceptable quality.
Data sources: Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey, 1999-2012; Canadian Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey, 2013, 2015, 2017; Youth Smoking Survey, 1994, 2002, 2004-05, 2006-07, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2012-13; Canadian Student Tobacco, Alcohol and Drugs Survey, 2014-2015, 2016-2017, 2018-2019.