Smoking bans

Smoking statistics

Look at these statistics, do you want that your friends and family to be part of the next ones? Do you wish that you would become yourself the subject of such a study because of the colleagues that smoke around you? Passive smoking kills! Inform yourself and take action! Don't be a victim anymore, be a leader! Fight for your own rights! You have only one life, take good care of it.

Statistics from United States

In the United States, an estimated 20.9 million women (18.5 percent) and 25.1 million men (23.4 percent) are smokers. These people are at higher risk of heart attack and stroke. The latest estimates for persons age 18 and older show:

  • In 2004, 24.1% of men and 20.4% of women smoke among non-Hispanic whites
  • Among non-Hispanic blacks, 23.9% of men and 17.2% of women smoke
  • Among Hispanics, 18.9% of men and 10.9% of women smoke
  • Among Asians (only), 17.8% of men and 4.8% of women smoke
  • Among American Indians/Alaska Natives, 37.3% of men and 28.5% of women smoke
  • Studies show that smoking prevalence is higher among those who had earned a GED diploma (39.6%) and among those with 9-11 years of education (34.0%) compared with those with more than 16 years of education (8.0%). It's highest among persons living below the poverty level (29.1%)

Statistics from Romania

The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and other Drugs (ESPAD), lead by the Institute for Service Management, Health and the County Departments for Health Promotion and Health Education.

ESPAD - 2004

  • 64% from those under 16 years old are smoking. This is an increase of 11% compared with 1999 study. Also this is related with the drop in age at which people start smoking.
  • 32% of pupils have had their 1st smoke before they were 14.
  • Only 13% think that casual smoking is harmful but believe in proportion of over 75% that smoking 1-2 packs a day presents health risks.
  • 72% of the population with ages between 14-60 have declared that they have seen cigarettes commercials.

ESPAD - 1999

From 2.394 pupils in high school, in the 11th grade (approximately 16 years old):

  • 57.1% have smoked
  • 13.6% have started smoking at the age of 11 or less
  • 54% have started smoking before the age of 15
  • 17% smoke daily
  • Only 33.3% from the boys and 49.1% of the girls managed to stay away from tobacco until the age of 16.

Ministry of Health, march 2004

  • 40.000 people die annually in Romania because of cancer
  • The number of patients diagnosed with cancer was, on the 31 of December 2003 320.000, compared to 290.000 in 2001. This means a 10.35% increase in 2 years.
  • In 2003 have been recorded 58 261 new cases of cancer.
  • 1950 billion lei will be allocated this year by the Ministry of Health for the treatment of the patients sick with cancer, the medium cost for one year for treating one patient being 25 million lei.

Survey on the State of Health of the Population of Romania (2000), made by the National Survey Institute

  • 47.5% from the smokers have started smoking between the ages of 15 and 19
  • 33.8% from the smokers have started smoking between the ages of 20 and 24

In the age group of 15-24:

  • 18.8% of the men were smoking
  • 8.8% of the women were smoking
  • 10.4% have started smoking before 15
  • 71.4% have started smoking between 15 and 19

Study SSRR99 - 1999

  • 39% of the women were smokers (in 1989 the percentage was 11%)
  • 72% of the men were smokers, 54% of them considering themselves active smokers