QUITTING smoking has a profound impact at any age. But research shows that stopping before age 30 can reduce the risk of death by up to 97%, extending life expectancy by up to a decade.
Considering this, new analysis from nicotine pouch experts Northerner has revealed the latest trends in smoking across Great Britain, highlighting which regions and local areas are most affected, which are making the fastest progress to becoming smoke-free, plus the human and financial costs of smoking.
Smoking rates fall across Great Britain, with sharp regional differences emerging.
Smoking prevalence has dropped significantly over the past decade, with reductions exceeding 40% in all three nations. England has experienced the largest decline, with adult prevalence falling from 17.8% in 2014 to 10.4% in 2024. For 2024, this equates to about 6,096,500 adults who smoked, roughly one in ten residents.
In Wales, smoking fell from 19.4% to 11.4%, with about 363,300 adults smoking in 2024 (about one in seven). Scotland’s rate dropped from 20.3% to 12.0%, equating to roughly 665,600 adults, or one in eight residents, who smoked that year. Notably, Scotland began the decade with the highest smoking prevalence, meaning public health efforts there had to reduce a larger number of smokers to achieve this decline.
Looking at 2019–2024 in isolation, progress has accelerated. Wales saw the largest drop at 26.5%, closely followed by England at 25.2% and Scotland at 22.1%.
Local authority data reveals stark contrasts across Britain.
At a local level, the data reveals striking differences in smoking trends. Tamworth in the West Midlands has seen the largest increase in smoking prevalence, rising by 124.7% over the past decade (from 8.5% to 19.1%). With a population of 78,400, this equates to around 14,950 adults who were smokers in 2024.
South Staffordshire (6.9% to 12.7%) and Uttlesford (6.1% to 10.8%) have also recorded notable increases of 84.1% and 77.0%, respectively.
Outside of England, the Orkney Islands are the only Scottish region to have seen an increase (42.4%), while Welsh regions have seen no increase.
In contrast, Epsom and Ewell in the South East have effectively eliminated smoking, falling from 14.3% in 2014 to 0% in 2024, across its 83,288 population.
Stevenage and Selby have also seen significant declines of over 80%. Powys, Wales, ranks in the top 10, with a decline of 71.3% since 2014, while Inverclyde, Scotland, has seen the largest Scottish decline at 67.9%.
Smokers lose nearly a decade of their lives to smoking.
Beyond health and financial costs, smoking takes a measurable toll on life expectancy. Each cigarette chips away at your lifespan, adding up over weeks, months, and years.
Estimates from Northerner’s life-savings calculator show that over 30 years, someone smoking five cigarettes per day could lose two years of their life. For heavier smokers, this rises dramatically, with those smoking 20 cigarettes per day losing over eight years to the habit.
| Estimated years of life lost | |||||
| Cigarettes smoked per day | 1 year | 5 years | 10 years | 20 years | 30 years |
| 5 | 25 days | 4 months 7 days | 8 months 13 days | 1 year 4 months 27 days | 2 years 1 month 10 days |
| 10 | 1 month 21 days | 8 months 13 days | 1 year 4 months 27 days | 2 years 9 months 24 days | 4 years 2 months 21 days |
| 20 | 3 months 11 days | 1 year 4 months 27 days | 2 years 9 months 24 days | 5 years 6 months 18 days | 8 years 4 months 12 days |
Markus Lindblad, Head of Legal and External Affairs at Northerner, shares his top tips to help people quit smoking in 2026: “While smoking rates are falling, the human impact remains severe.
“In England alone, smoking caused 191,903 deaths between 2017 and 2019, highlighting the lasting toll of cigarettes on the population.
“Smoking also places a heavy financial burden on health services, with related illnesses costing an estimated £21.8 billion in England in 2024.
“The journey to quitting smoking looks different for everyone. For many smokers, an immediate and complete stop is difficult to achieve due to nicotine dependence.
“Traditional smoking cessation has long been characterised by an “all or nothing” principle. However, both research and practical experience show that gradual changes often lead to better and more sustainable outcomes.
“Reducing cigarette consumption step by step, setting realistic goals, and finding the right support can make a significant difference.
“For some, alternative nicotine products can play a role in this transition, helping to manage cravings while moving away from smoking.
“It’s also important to identify personal triggers, whether that’s stress, social situations, or routine habits, and replace them with better alternatives.
“Small changes, like delaying your first cigarette of the day or cutting down gradually, can build momentum over time.
“Most importantly, no one has to do it alone. There is a wide range of support options available, from local stop smoking services and national helplines to online tools and apps, all designed to help people quit in a way that works for them.”
For further information on smoking alternatives, visit Northerner.
