U.S. Adult Cigarette Smoking Rates Dropped to Record Low
While cigarette use declined in 2024, more American adults reported using e-cigarettes compared to previous years.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Asthma
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The CDC reported that cigarette smoking among U.S. adults fell to 10% in 2024, down from 11% in 2023. While long-term anti-smoking initiatives have successfully reduced traditional tobacco use, e-cigarette usage simultaneously rose to 7% in 2024.
Why it matters
Declines in smoking reflect decades of public health efforts, but the shift toward e-cigarettes complicates the landscape for respiratory health. Because no e-cigarette is FDA-approved for smoking cessation, these trends raise new questions about long-term lung health and product dependence.
Self-reported CDC survey data shows a 10% cigarette smoking rate in 2024, a decrease from 11% in 2023. Meanwhile, e-cigarette usage reached 7% in 2024, up from 6.5% in 2023 and 3.7% in 2020, with higher rates observed in rural populations.
The players
CDC
The federal agency tasked with monitoring public health trends and managing data on tobacco use and respiratory health.
FDA
The federal agency responsible for regulating tobacco and nicotine products, which has not approved any e-cigarette for smoking cessation.
The details
Public health strategies since the landmark 1964 Surgeon General report have utilized education and cessation support to lower cigarette prevalence. Conversely, rising e-cigarette use—particularly at 9.2% in rural areas compared to 6.1% in cities—suggests aggressive marketing efforts to capture new customers. These trends are critical for those managing chronic conditions, as the long-term impacts of e-cigarette aerosols on lung function remain under study.
Timeline
1964: Surgeon General report warned of cigarette health risks.
2020: 3.7% of U.S. adults used e-cigarettes.
2023: 11% of U.S. adults smoked; 6.5% used e-cigarettes.
2024: 10% of U.S. adults smoked; 7% used e-cigarettes.
Health Landscape
These trends follow the trajectory of declining combustible cigarette use first sparked by the 1964 Surgeon General report. The current rise in e-cigarette use represents a departure from that historical arc, shifting the focus of public health concerns toward newer nicotine delivery systems.
If you are concerned about how tobacco or nicotine exposure affects your respiratory health, discuss potential cessation strategies with your primary care doctor. Be aware that e-cigarettes are not a medically approved method for quitting smoking.
The takeaway
While adult cigarette smoking has reached a record low, the increased use of e-cigarettes presents new, unaddressed concerns for lung health. Always talk to a healthcare provider about safe, proven methods for smoking cessation rather than relying on unapproved e-cigarette products.
Further reading
For more information on protecting your respiratory health, visit the Asthma section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kiss 107.1.
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