Australian Daily Smoking Rises for First Time Since 1993, Wesfarmers Data Shows

Wesfarmers Health has released its Health Index 2026, revealing that 10.1% of Australians report smoking daily. Based on almost 600,000 free Health Station checks conducted between July 2025 and June 2026, the findings point to the first rise in daily smoking rates across the country in over three decades.

According to AIHW records, daily smoking had been dropping consistently since 1993, when 25% of Australians aged 14 and older smoked every day. The new data challenges previous assumptions that tobacco consumption was permanently receding.

Metric	AIHW Data (2025)	Wesfarmers Health Index (2026)
Daily Smoking Rate	5.6%	10.1%
Daily Vaping Rate	3.6%	7.1%
Survey Age Base	Ages 14 and over	Ages 15 and over

Youth Driving Uptick in Nicotine Consumption

Australians aged 15 to 24 registered the highest rates of daily smoking. Among adolescents aged 15 to 19, 31% reported daily smoking or vaping, with vaping slightly higher at 16.8% compared to 14.3% for combustible cigarettes.

Dual-use remains exceptionally high among young users. The report revealed that 87% of daily smokers aged 15 to 19 also vaped every day. Across age cohorts, daily smoking rates decreased as age groups grew older.

Young Australians report the highest rate of smoking both cigarettes and e-cigarettes, with rates decreasing with age. Picture: Wesfarmers Health.

Regional Discrepancies and Data Context

Geographic patterns show distinct habits across states:

Queensland: Recorded the highest daily combustible smoking rate in the nation.
Western Australia: Recorded the highest daily e-cigarette usage rate.

The report notes that because Wesfarmers Health relies on self-reported entries from kiosk users, the findings carry potential selection bias. While not directly comparable to the broader methodologies of the AIHW, the results show that nicotine dependency remains a serious public health challenge in Australia.

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Matthew Ma

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With over a decade of experience in the e-cigarette industry, Matthew Ma is a seasoned expert in both the manufacturing and usage aspects of vaping products. His extensive background has provided him with a deep understanding of the intricacies and evolving dynamics of e-cigarettes.