In 2010, among Canadian adults age 15 and older:

• 16.7% of Canadians (approximately 4.7 million) were current smokers.
• The majority of smokers reported smoking daily (13.1% daily/3.7% non-daily prevalence).
• Although prevalence is at an all-time low, the decline in smoking prevalence observed over the past decade appears to have slowed.
• Smoking prevalence was higher among males (19.7%) than females (13.8%) for both daily and non-daily smoking.
• Smoking prevalence was highest among young adults (22.1% among the 20-24 age group), and generally declined with age. Prevalence was lowest among youth aged 15-19 and adults over 55.
• Substantial differences in smoking prevalence by education level persisted over the last decade, despite declining prevalence. Those with a secondary school education or less had double the smoking prevalence of university graduates.
• Daily smokers in Canada smoked an average of 15.1 cigarettes per day.
  • Average consumption has declined by more than 2 cigarettes per day since 1999.
• Male daily smokers consumed approximately 3 more cigarettes per day than females.
• There were significant differences between provinces in smoking prevalence, cigarette consumption, use of roll-your-own tobacco, and use of other tobacco products.
• Smoking prevalence ranged from 14% in BC to 21% in Saskatchewan.
• Cigars and cigarillos were the most popular tobacco products other than cigarettes: 4% of Canadians reported use in the past 30 days.
• Roll-your-own tobacco was used by approximately one in nine smokers.
• Nearly half of smokers have made efforts to purchase cheaper cigarettes, including buying discount brands and purchasing on First Nations reserves.