Suffolk rated in top 10 highest percentage decrease of smokers

A new study has found that Suffolk has the tenth highest percentage decrease in current smokers., with Surrey taking top spot.  

 Research by gosmokefree.co.uk analysed data from the UK Office for National Statistics on adult smoking habits between 2015 and 2023 to find the areas in which people have been quitting smoking at the fastest rate.   

UK Counties with the highest percentage of smokers quitting between 2015 and 2023:

Rank 

County 

2015 percentage of smokers 

2023 percentage of smokers 

Overall percentage change in current smokers 

1 

 

Surrey 

14.0% 

7.3% 

-48% 

2 

Staffordshire 

13.6% 

7.3% 

-46% 

3 

Leicestershire 

17.4% 

9.5% 

-45% 

4 

Hertfordshire 

15.5% 

9.7% 

-37% 

5 

Hampshire 

14.8% 

9.3% 

-37% 

6 

East Sussex 

17.9% 

11.4% 

-36% 

7 

Nottinghamshire 

15.7% 

10.0% 

-36% 

8 

Cumbria 

15.5% 

9.9% 

-36% 

9 

Somerset 

16.1% 

10.6% 

-34% 

10 

Suffolk 

16.1% 

10.6% 

-34% 

 

Surrey is the county with the highest percentage of smokers quitting. In 2015, 14pc of the adult population smoked, which has steadily declined to 7.3pc in 2023, an overall decrease of 48pc.  

Staffordshire is the second county in the country where smoking rates have been declining at the fastest rate. In 2015, 13.6pc of the population reported being a current smoker. This dropped to 7.3pc in 2023, an overall decrease of 46pc.  

Suffolk recorded a 34pc decrease in smoking rates. The percentage of smokers dropped from 16.1pc to 10.6pc during the eight-year period. 

A spokesperson from gosmokefree.co.uk said: “The significant reductions in smoking rates provide a positive outlook for public health across the UK.

“As smoking is a leading cause of preventable illness and death, these reductions are an encouraging sign of improving health and well-being.

“As local and national efforts persist, further declines in smoking rates could help the UK achieve its vision of a healthier, smoke-free future. 

For more information go to http://www.gosmokefree.co.uk

 

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