The smoking rates in New York City are a cause for serious concern. See below some figures that highlight the impact of smoking across the City and in your borough.
Last Updated February 2024 |
In New York State…
- New York State residents’ tax burden from smoking-related healthcare costs is $1,528 per household.(5)
- Annual health care costs in New York State directly caused by smoking is $9.7 billion.(5)
In New York City…
- 8.7% of residents (590,000 adults) smoke.(1)
- 8,000 public high school students currently smoke cigarettes; one-third of whom will die prematurely as a direct result of smoking.(2)
- More than 200,000 children are still exposed to secondhand smoke at home.(4)
- 15.2% (37,000) public high school students report current use of an e-vapor product (2), indicating dual use of e-cigs and combustible cigarettes.
Adult Smoking Rates by Borough, 2022 (1)
Bronx |
11.7 |
124,000 |
Brooklyn |
9.2 |
192,000 |
Manhattan |
8.3 |
112,000 |
Queens |
6.2 |
116,000 |
Staten Island |
11.9 |
45,000 |
Current e-Cigarette Use Rates by Borough, 2022 (1)
Bronx |
7.2 |
74,000 |
Brooklyn |
6.9 |
126,000 |
Manhattan |
7.7 |
94,000 |
Queens |
6.0 |
98,000 |
Staten Island |
7.4 |
24,000 |
Current Menthol Product Use Rates (among current smokers) by Borough, 2022 (1)
Bronx |
82.3 |
100,000 |
Brooklyn |
45.90 |
96,000 |
Manhattan |
26.9* |
31,000 |
Queens |
40.8* |
45,000 |
Staten Island |
36.3* |
19,000 |
*Estimate should be interpreted with caution. Estimate’s Relative Standard Error (a measure of estimate precision) is greater than 30%, or the 95% Confidence Interval half-width is greater than 10 or the sample size is too small, making the estimate potentially unreliable. |
Adult Smoking Rates by Sexual Orientation, 2022 (1)
Gay/Lesbian |
15.7 |
59,000 |
Straight |
8.1 |
472,000 |
Bisexual |
15.3 |
34,000 |
Something else |
5.8* |
8,000 |
|
|
|
*Estimate should be interpreted with caution. Estimate’s Relative Standard Error (a measure of estimate precision) is greater than 30%, or the 95% Confidence Interval half-width is greater than 10 or the sample size is too small, making the estimate potentially unreliable. |
Current Smoking Among Public High School Students, 2019 (2)
NYC Overall |
3.3 |
8,000 |
Bronx |
3.9 |
2,000 |
Brooklyn |
2.3 |
2,000 |
Manhattan |
4.0 |
2,000 |
Queens |
3.2 |
2,000 |
Staten Island |
3.9 |
1,000 |
Current E-Cigarette Use Among Public High School Students, 2019 (2)
Overall |
15.2 |
37,000 |
Bronx |
14.7 |
6,000 |
Brooklyn |
15.2 |
10,000 |
Manhattan |
14.5 |
7,000 |
Queens |
14.9 |
10,000 |
Staten Island |
19.9 |
3,000 |
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. New York City Community Health Survey 2022.
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. New York City Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2019.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Projected smoking-related deaths among youth–United States.” MMWR. 45(44).1996.
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. More and more New Yorkers recognizing that secondhand smoke is toxic. 5 May 2007. Print.
- Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. Fact Sheet: The Toll of Tobacco in New York. May 18, 2021.