Tobacco Use in Canada
Patterns and Trends - 2012 Edition

SMOKING IN THE PROVINCES: British Columbia

Smoking Prevalence | Cigarette Consumption

British Columbia

Smoking Prevalence

In 2010, smoking prevalence in British Columbia was 14.3%, well below the national average of 16.7%.

Figure 2.3 (below) shows smoking prevalence, overall and by sex, in British Columbia from 1999-2010. Overall, prevalence declined until around 2004 and has remained fairly stable since then. Males had similar or greater prevalence than females in all years observed, although there was some year-to-year variation.

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Figure 2.4 shows smoking prevalence by age group in British Columbia, from 1999-2010. During this time, smoking prevalence decreased (although not consistently) in all age groups except those over 45, for whom smoking prevalence fluctuated around 13% for most of the time period. Prevalence increased sharply between 2009 and 2010 in the 25-44 age group, although it is not clear whether this is an anomaly, a cohort effect, or the beginning of an upward trend.

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