The US Tobacco Atlas aims to orient readers to the facts and figures of the tobacco epidemic in the United States, highlighting its health and economic burden focusing on the cancer burden.
Overview
"As an organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem, the American Cancer Society views tobacco control as one of the most powerful tools we have to prevent cancer before it starts."
William L. Dahut, Chief Scientific Officer, American Cancer Society
Cigarette Smoking
11
%
Adult cigarette smoking prevalence has declined significantly among the general population, with great reductions from 42.4% in 1965 to 11.0% in 2023.
Lung Cancer Screening
18.1
%
Despite cigarette smoking being a leading risk factor for lung cancer, only 18.1% of eligible adults who currently smoke or formerly smoked were up to date with lung cancer screening in 2022.
Youth E-cigarette Use
1.63
M
Youth use of e-cigarettes remains high despite declines; in 2024, 1.63 million youth reported use, with 90% preferring flavored products.
Adult E-cigarette Use
33
%
of adults who currently use tobacco products use combustible cigarettes and e-cigarettes at the same time.
Socio-Economic Disparities in Quitting Smoking
46.1
%
of lower-income Americans who have ever smoked (current or former) have been able to quit, compared to 72.5% of their higher-income counterparts.
Disparities in Tobacco-Related Burden
Groups facing higher tobacco-related burdens
include non-White individuals, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those with lower income and limited education.
Smoking-Related Cancer Deaths
29
%
of all cancer deaths in the US are attributable to cigarette smoking, making it the single most preventable cause of cancer deaths and associated economic loss.
Productivity Loss
2.2
M
years of life were lost among US adults aged 25 to 79 years in 2019 due to smoking-related cancer, along with an estimated $20.9 billion in lost earnings.
Economic Loss
$436.7
B
Cigarette smoking cost the US economy an estimated $436.7 billion (equivalent to 2.1% of US GDP) in 2020, including $362.4 billion in personal income loss and $74.1 billion in household productivity loss. The lower income trajectory caused by smoking from 2010 to 2020 resulted in a cumulative economic loss of $891.8 billion in 2020.
Environmental Pollution
$264.5
M
The total annual cost to clean up tobacco product waste for the 30 largest US cities in 2020.
Restricting Access
Youth tobacco use plummeted
immediately after the adoption of the minimum age law.
Corrective Statements
40.6
%
of adults were exposed to anti-smoking advertisements—but this figure is lower among populations at the greatest risk of tobacco use.
Cessation Medications
50-60
%
increase in a user’s chances of abstinence with the use of nicotine replacement therapy compared to trying to quit without medication.
Taxation and Pricing
Raising tobacco products taxes
to increase their prices is one of the most effective ways to reduce tobacco use.Suggested Citation
- Nargis N, Westmaas JL, Wang S, Nighbor T, Asare S, Patel M, Orr-Souza E, Xue Z, Islami F, Bandi P, Star J, Kratzer T, Freedman N, Jemal A. The US Tobacco Atlas. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society, 2025.