| Characteristic | 1965 | 1970 | 1974 | 1979 | 1985 | 1990 | 1992 | 1995 | 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 41.9 (±0.7) | 43.1 (±1.1) | 44.8 (±0.8) | 45.1 (±1.2) | 46.2 (±0.9) | 42.3 (±0.8) | 43.1 (±1.1) | 42.2 (±1.2) | 40.7 (±0.9) |
| Age (years) | |||||||||
| 18-24 | 44.3 (±1.9) | 40.7 (±1.5) | 41.8 (±2.1) | 44.0 (±2.1) | 40.2 (±2.3) | 32.4 (±2.2) | 30.4 (±2.9) | 30.8 (±3.3) | 32.8 (±2.8) |
| 25-44 | 53.4 (±1.3) | 53.4 (±1.4) | 53.4 (±1.3) | 51.2 (±1.6) | 49.9 (±1.3) | 44.5 (±1.1) | 45.5 (±1.5) | 43.8 (±1.8) | 40.5 (±1.3) |
| 45-64 | 40.6 (±1.2) | 45.2 (±1.7) | 48.4 (±1.5) | 48.6 (±1.7) | 51.6 (±1.8) | 49.3 (±1.4) | 50.1 (±2.0) | 47.6 (±2.2) | 46.2 (±1.6) |
| > 65 | 14.1 (±1.4) | 18.6 (±1.4) | 22.6 (±1.6) | 27.3 (±1.7) | 34.8 (±2.0) | 34.7 (±1.5) | 36.4 (±2.2) | 38.4 (±2.4) | 38.2 (±1.8) |
| Race/ethnicity* | |||||||||
| White, non-Hispanic | 42.3 (±0.7) | 43.7 (±1.2) | 45.0 (±0.9) | 46.7 (±1.2) | 48.0 (±1.1) | 45.4 (±0.9) | 46.6 (±1.2) | 46.0 (±1.4) | 44.8 (±1.1) |
| Black, non-Hispanic | 39.4 (±2.2) | 39.5 (±2.4) | 44.0 (±3.0) | 42.3 (±2.6) | 43.5 (±2.6) | 34.3 (±1.9) | 35.5 (±2.5) | 36.9 (±3.4) | 32.6 (±2.2) |
| Hispanic | NA ** | NA | NA | 35.4 (±3.5) | 33.8 (±3.3) | 30.5 (±2.7) | 29.2 (±3.0) | 26.5 (±2.8) | 25.6 (±1.9) |
| American Indian or Alaska Native | NA | NA | NA | 56.6 (± 11.8)§ | 47.8 (±13.8) | 54.6 (± 11.4) | 56.0 (±12.5) | 53.0 (±14.7) | 57.7 (± 11.3) |
| Asian or Pacific Islander | NA | NA | NA | 24.3 (±8.1) | 20.0 (±6.5) | 13.9 (±3.9) | 12.0 (±4.2) | 13.8 (±4.1) | 16.8 (±4.6) |
| Education (number of years) | |||||||||
| < 8 | NA | 30.3 (±1.1) | 31.9 (±2.1) | 33.1 (±2.3) | 36.4 (±2.7) | 32.2 (±2.4) | 33.5 (±3.0) | 34.2 (±3.8) | 33.0 (±2.9) |
| 9-11 | NA | 50.0 (±1.6) | 52.3 (±2.3) | 52.2 (±2.5) | 54.9 (±2.3) | 53.0 (±2.2) | 52.7 (±3.0) | 54.4 (±3.5) | 51.5 (±2.6) |
| 12 | NA | 47.9 (±1.5) | 48.9 (±1.4) | 47.4 (±1.9) | 49.3 (±1.6) | 47.4 (±1.2) | 48.6 (±1.7) | 47.6 (±2.0) | 45.0 (±1.6) |
| 13-15 | NA | 48.8 (±2.8) | 48.6 (±2.8) | 50.5 (±2.8) | 49.6 (±2.2) | 44.7 (±1.7) | 47.3 (±2.3) | 45.9 (±2.8) | 45.7 (±1.8) |
| > 16 | NA | 46.7 (±2.6) | 48.1 (±3.2) | 43.8 (±2.0) | 41.7 (±2.2) | 35.8 (±1.7) | 35.9 (±2.2) | 34.1 (±2.6) | 31.3 (±1.7) |
| Socioeconomic status¶ | |||||||||
| Below poverty level | NA | NA | NA | NA | 45.3 (±2.2) | 43.8 (±2.3) | 43.3 (±3.0) | 42.0 (±3.1) | 41.3 (±2.3) |
| At or above poverty level | NA | NA | NA | NA | 46.9 (±1.0) | 42.5 (±0.9) | 43.5 (±1.1) | 42.8 (±1.4) | 41.2 (±1.1) |
| Unknown | NA | NA | NA | NA | 42.9 (±2.7) | 38.7 (±2.5) | 39.3 (±2.9) | 35.3 (±3.9) | 39.0 (±1.9) |
| Men | 71.7 (±0.7) | 70.4 (±0.6) | 70.8 (±1.0) | 66.2 (±1.0) | 63.7 (±1.0) | 58.7 (±0.9) | 57.5 (±1.1) | 54.6 (±1.4) | 53.8 (±1.0) |
Note: Prevalence of ever smoking is prevalence of all persons in each demographic category who reported smoking > 100 cigarettes in their lifetime.
Ethnicity was not determined in 1965, 1970, or 1974. Thus, estimates for whites and for blacks during these years likely include data for some persons of Hispanic origin.
NA = Not available.
Estimate should be interpreted with caution because of the small number of respondents.
For women aged > 25 years. Data for five education categories not available for 1965.
Definition of poverty status changed in 1997. (See Appendix 2 for definitions.)Sources: National Center for Health Statistics, public use data tapes, 1965, 1970, 1974, 1979, 1985, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1998.
From: Chapter 2. Patterns of Tobacco Use Among Women and Girls
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