Background - Smoking is one of the leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease, with effects that can manifest early on and even with very low tobacco consumption. The objective of our study was to provide an overview of the general public’s awareness of tobacco as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in 2019. Method - Our study was based on data from the 2019 Santé publique France Health Barometer, a telephone survey of adults aged 18 to 85 residing in metropolitan France. Public awareness was assessed using three questions regarding tobacco as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and the thresholds for tobacco consumption and duration of smoking required to be at risk for these conditions. These questions were asked of a random subsample of 5,074 individuals. To account for the method of participant recruitment and ensure that the data were representative of the population of metropolitan France, the data were weighted and then adjusted according to the population structure (sex, age, educational level, region, level of urbanization, household size). Results - In 2019, 9 out of 10 French people stated that smoking was a risk factor for cardiovascular disease or stroke. Only two-thirds were aware of the cardiovascular risk associated with smoking fewer than 10 cigarettes per day, and 1 in 4 people were aware of an immediate increased cardiovascular risk among smokers. People under 65 and those with higher levels of education had a better understanding of the link between tobacco and cardiovascular disease, particularly regarding the thresholds for quantity and duration of use that put one at risk. Conclusion - This study highlights a significant improvement over the past 20 years in the French public’s understanding of the link between smoking and cardiovascular disease. Nevertheless, this understanding remains very fragmented, with the general population underestimating the low thresholds for risk in terms of both quantity and duration of smoking.