Humber & North Yorkshire Adult Smoking Rates Drop to Record Low

The proportion of adults who smoke across Humber and North Yorkshire has fallen to the lowest level on record, according to new data from the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID). The Annual Population Survey (APS) data shows that adult smoking rates in the region were 11.7% in 2024, a decrease from 12.7% in the previous year. This equates to approximately 14,780 fewer smokers, with an estimated 173,000 current smokers remaining in the area.

This decline marks a significant long-term achievement, with regional smoking rates having more than halved over the last 20 years, down from 28% in 2004. The trend mirrors a national one, as smoking rates across England as a whole have also dropped to a record low of 10.4% in 2024, down from 11.6% the previous year. However, significant local variations persist within the Humber and North Yorkshire region, with rates ranging from 18.4% in Kingston upon Hull to just 6.7% in York.

These improvements are attributed to coordinated efforts to support smokers in quitting and to prevent youth initiation. The NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board established a Centre for Excellence in 2023 to coordinate these efforts, working with local authorities through the Breathe Collaborative. Initiatives include mass media stop-smoking campaigns and offering free behavioral support.

Despite the progress, smoking remains the biggest preventable cause of early death in England, causing an estimated 2,500 premature deaths annually in Humber and North Yorkshire and costing the area nearly £1.4 billion a year. Scott Crosby, Associate Director for the Centre for Excellence, called the progress “positive” but stressed that more must be done to support smokers and dissuade youth, referencing the ambition of the UK’s Tobacco and Vapes Bill to achieve a smokefree generation.

• Free stop smoking support is available to everyone and with help you are three times more likely to quit then trying it on your own. Visit www.yestoquit.co.uk to find your local service.

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