North East adult smoking rate reaches record low of 9.7%

The proportion of adults smoking in the North East has fallen below 10% for the first time, marking a major public health milestone for a region that once recorded England’s highest rate.

Figures from the latest Annual Population Survey show that 9.7% of adults in the region smoked in 2025, down from 10.2% a year earlier. The rate stood at 29% when regional tobacco-control programme Fresh launched in 2005, meaning smoking prevalence has fallen by around two-thirds in two decades—the largest reduction recorded by any English region over that period.

The improvement follows sustained work by councils, NHS organisations, charities and public health teams to prevent people from starting smoking and help existing smokers to quit. Smoking during pregnancy has also fallen substantially across the North East and North Cumbria, dropping from 13.1% in 2020/21 to a record low of 5%.

However, public health leaders warned that the regional headline does not reflect every community’s experience. Smoking remains considerably more common among people in routine and manual occupations, although the North East now has the lowest rate for this group among English regions at 18%. The Annual Population Survey may also miss some population groups, meaning the true prevalence could be higher.

Fresh director Ailsa Rutter said the fall demonstrated what could be achieved through consistent investment and collaboration, but warned there was no room for complacency. Smoking continues to contribute to cancers, cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, placing substantial pressure on the NHS, social care services and families.

The latest national figures show that smoking across England has also fallen below 10% for the first time, declining from 10.4% in 2024 to 9.5% in 2025.

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