Statistics

 ASH Scotland smoking statistics factsheet The Information Service has compiled a collection of smoking statistics for quick reference, particularly those most relevant to Scotland but also including UK and Worldwide figures for comparison. The document can be downloaded below, and will be updated every quarter.  Also see menu links to the right hand side.

• ASH Scotland smoking & tobacco statistics factsheet
• Scottish smoking prevalence trends 1974 - 2019 (graph)

This interactive tool from Scotland's Public Health Observatory (ScotPHO) provides access to a range of public health related indicators at different geographies including NHS boards, council areas and health and social care partnerships.

• ScotPHO profiles tool

Smoking attributable deaths

Smoking attributable deaths in persons aged 35 and over, 2-year average number and directly age-sex standardised rate per 100,000 population. 

For the above and other Scottish 'smoking attibutable deaths' figures, the latest figures can be found here

The previous estimates of smoking attributable deaths published in the ScotPHO Smoking Ready Reckoner

report and ScotPHO tobacco profiles were calculated using the Peto method. This is based on the ratio of lung cancer mortality rates in current smokers compared with never smokers in the United States. 

The new ScotPHO tobacco profiles estimates use the methodology employed in the Health Profile of England (HPE). Full details of the methodology can be found in the ScotPHO tobacco profiles technical report.

This revised method is based on three pieces of information:

1. Estimates of smoking prevalence for both smokers and ex-smokers by gender and age;

2. Published relative risks for deaths and non-fatal diseases for both smokers and ex-smokers for diseases known to be due to smoking;

3. Observed numbers of deaths caused by diseases due to smoking.

Compared to the Peto method the new method produces a lower estimate of the number of smoking attributable deaths, but the figures derived from the two methods are not directly comparable. The new methodology is thought to be more accurate in providing estimates of smoking attributable deaths. This method has the additional benefit that figures are directly comparable to those reported by Public Health England.

If you can't find what you are looking for or if you have any questions relating to tobacco control in Scotland please do not hesitate to contact our free national enquiry service. E-mail enquiries@ashscotland.org.uk or phone 0131 225 4725.

Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland is responsible for the maintenance and development of the web-based 'National Smoking Cessation Database' including user training and support, and for the national monitoring of NHS smoking cessation services in Scotland, using the data collected via the national database.  The Information Services Division (ISD) is a division of National Services Scotland, part of NHS Scotland. ISD provides health information, health intelligence, statistical services and advice that support the NHS in progressing quality improvement in health and care and facilitates robust planning and decision making.