These results show that in 2022, more than three in ten people reported smoking, and one in four reported smoking daily. These prevalence rates have remained stable compared to 2021 and since 2019. In addition, results regarding factors associated with the desire to quit smoking and quit attempts among smokers from the 2021 Santé publique France Public Health Barometer have been published. They show that nearly 6 out of 10 daily smokers wish to quit smoking.

The number of smokers remains high in France

Each year, Santé publique France estimates the prevalence of smoking and its change compared to the previous year. This indicator plays a major role in guiding public policies implemented in the fight against smoking. Following an unprecedented decline in daily smoking between 2016 and 2019 (from 29.4% to 24.0% in mainland France), the prevalence has stabilized since 2019. Tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable death in France, with 75,000 attributable deaths in 2015,¹ accounting for 13% of all deaths.

In 2022, in mainland France, more than three out of ten people aged 18–75 report smoking (31.8%), and one-quarter smoke daily (24.5%). The increase observed among women between 2019 and 2021 does not appear to be continuing. Men smoke more than women (27.4% daily smoking rate vs. 21.7%).

Social inequalities remain very pronounced

Social inequalities regarding smoking were examined using three indicators: educational attainment, income, and employment status. The results show that:

• The prevalence of daily smoking remains significantly higher in 2022 among those with lower educational attainment: it ranges from 30.8% among people with no diploma or a diploma below the high school diploma to 16.8% among those with a diploma above the high school diploma.

• Prevalence is highest among the third of the population with the lowest incomes (33.6%).

• Finally, among those aged 18–64, the prevalence of daily smoking remains significantly higher among the unemployed (42.3%) than among the employed (26.1%) or students (19.1%).

Regarding trends, the prevalence of daily smoking does not vary significantly by educational attainment or employment status between 2021 and 2022, with a trend toward stability since 2019. The increase observed among those with the lowest levels of education between 2019 and 2021 appears to have come to a halt.

Vaping: an upward trend

In 2022, 41.2% of 18- to 75-year-olds reported having tried an e-cigarette. The prevalence of daily vaping stands at 5.5%. It has not changed significantly compared to 2021, but an upward trend has been observed since 2016 (2.5% of daily vapers in 2016).

Nearly 6 out of 10 daily smokers want to quit

Data from the 2021 Santé publique France Health Barometer show that among daily smokers, 59.3% report wanting to quit smoking, 26.4% report planning to quit within the next 6 months, and 30.3% have made an attempt to quit for at least one week in the past 12 months. More male smokers than female smokers want to quit smoking (61.7% vs. 56.5% of women) and have attempted to quit in the past 12 months (34.3% vs. 25.8%), with the gaps being most pronounced among those aged 18–34.

These results call for strengthening strategies to prevent smoking and reduce social inequalities

Following a period of declining smoking prevalence between 2016 and 2019, the stability in smoking rates observed starting in 2020 is confirmed in 2022. The impact of the health, social, and economic crisis linked to COVID-19 cannot be ruled out regarding the halt in the decline of smoking prevalence and the increase observed among certain populations. Social inequalities in smoking remain very pronounced and will be a major challenge for the third national tobacco control program, which will be launched in 2023. Santé publique France is a key player in these public policies through its support for early prevention programs in schools, its social marketing campaigns targeting smokers, and its smoking cessation support service, Tabac info service, which is free and accessible to all.

A new push toward a #Generationsanstabac

The second national tobacco control program, launched in 2018, concluded in 2022 with positive results: an overall decline in daily smoking among adults (from 26.9% in 2017 to 24.5% in 2022) and a significant decline among 17-year-olds (from 25.1% in 2017 to 15.6% in 2022 — Source: 2022 Escapad survey), an increase in the volume of reimbursed nicotine replacement therapies and the number of prescribing healthcare professionals, and a rise in the number of “smoke-free” locations across the country...

With the aim of continuing the fight against the scourge of smoking and achieving a first smoke-free generation by 2032, in line with the goal of the ten-year cancer control strategy—which is, ultimately, a smoke-free society— Health and Prevention Minister François BRAUN has announced a new national tobacco control program, which is currently being developed and will be launched this year.

Building on and accelerating the previous program, the initiative will focus in particular on better preventing people from taking up smoking and supporting smokers in quitting, with a special focus on target populations, particularly young people, as well as on reducing tobacco-related social health inequalities.