Table 1
Prevalence and Intensity of Smoking In the U.S., 1996-97


  NUMBER OF PERSONS
(IN MILLIONS)
PERCENT OF ADULT
POPULATION
(S.E.)
U.S. Adult Population1
195.2
100
Current Smokers
49.0
25.1 (0.4)
   Someday Smokers
11.0
5.6 (0.1)
   Everyday Smokers2
38.0
19.5 (0.4)
      1-20 cigarettes/day
29.4
15.0 (0.3)
      21-39 cigarettes/day
5.0
2.6 (0.1)
      >=40 cigarettes/day
3.4
1.7 (0.1)
Former Smokers
46.9
24.0 (0.3)
   Recent Quitters3
4.9
2.5 (0.1)
   Long-term Quitters4
42.0
21.5 (0.3)
Non-Smokers5
99.3
50.9 (0.5)

1 Non-institutionalized, civilian population ages 18 and older in the continental U.S.
2 Includes 0.2 million everyday smokers who did not provide an estimate of cigarettes smoked per day.
3 Persons who quit smoking during the 12 months prior to the survey.
4 Persons who quit smoking more than 12 months prior to the survey.
5 Persons who have smoked less than 100 cigarettes during their entire lives.