Tobacco smoking rates
across Australia, 2011–12
Published October 2013
This report for the first time presents adult smoking rates at the
local level across Australia.
In 2011–12, 2.8 million adults smoked tobacco daily and smoking rates varied
across local areas.1 This report shows that the percentage of adults who
smoked daily varied four-fold across local areas, ranging from 6% in Sydney
North Shore and Beaches to 28% in Grampians. In four local areas, one in 10
adults or fewer were daily smokers.
Rates in some local areas were still relatively high as one-third of all local
areas had smoking rates of at least 20% – equivalent to at least one in five
people smoking daily.
Smoking is a major risk factor for many chronic conditions including coronary
heart disease, stroke and many cancers.2 Rates of smoking have been
declining for many decades. Latest national data shows 16% of adults
smoked daily in 2011–12.1
Tobacco smoking:
range across local areas
6
%
Sydney North
Shore & Beaches
Medicare Local
28
%
Grampians
Medicare Local
Smoking is still one of the largest single preventable causes of death and
disease in Australia2 and this represents an enormous social and economic
burden on individuals and the health system.3
National adult smoking trends
Local areas with highest smoking rates
40
Medicare Local name
20
16%
Year
20
20 01 6
04
–
20 05 7
07
–0
88
20
11
–1
21
19
89
0
–9
06
10
19
77
5
Per cent (%)
30
Smoking rate (%)
Grampians
28%
Goldfields-Midwest
26%
Far North Queensland
25%
Northern Territory
24%
Country North SA
23%
Goulburn Valley
23%
Townsville-Mackay
23%
Sources and references can be found in the Technical Note at www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au/publications
Visit www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au for more detailed results
Key findings
Variation across Australia
High rates of smoking occur in many local areas including
metropolitan, rural and disadvantaged communities.
Across all local areas, Grampians in regional Victoria,
had the highest smoking rate, with more than one in four
adults being current daily smokers, compared with one in
16 people (6%) in Sydney North Shore and Beaches.
To allow fairer comparisons between the Medicare
Local areas for which there were data, Medicare Local
catchments were grouped into seven peer groups
based on similar geographic remoteness and
socioeconomic status.
Across metropolitan areas, one in 10 adults were daily
smokers in the wealthiest inner-city areas (Metro 1
peer group) compared with one in six in lower-income
communities (Metro 2 and 3). In regional areas, one in six
(Regional 1 peer group) and one in five (Regional 2) were
daily smokers. In local rural areas, one in four adults were
daily smokers.
Variation across states and territories
The four local areas with the highest percentages of
adults who were daily smokers were in regional and rural
catchments in the following jurisdictions:
Across similar regional areas, smoking rates were
double in some places, indicating there may be
opportunity for reducing rates in these Medicare
Local catchments.
The ranges within each of the metropolitan, regional and
rural peer groups for rates of smoking were:
• Metro 1: from 6% for Sydney North Shore and
Beaches (NSW) to 14% for Northern Sydney (NSW)
• Metro 2: from 12% for Fremantle (WA) to 22% for
South Western Melbourne (Vic)
• Metro 3: from 14% for Western Sydney (NSW) to
22% for Macedon Ranges and NW Melb (Vic)
• Regional 1: from 14% for Hunter (NSW), Sunshine
Coast (Qld) and Barwon (Vic) to 21% for NepeanBlue Mountains (NSW)
• Regional 2: from 14% for North Coast NSW to 28%
for Grampians (Vic)
• Rural 1: from 16% for Far West NSW to 23% for
Townsville-Mackay (Qld)
• Rural 2: from 24% for Northern Territory to 26% for
Goldfields-Midwest (WA).
Victoria
Grampians
28%
Where to from here?
Western Australia
Goldfields-Midwest
26%
Queensland
Far North Queensland
25%
Northern Territory
Northern Territory
24%
In 2008, the Council of Australian Governments
established a target national smoking rate of
10% by 2018, which Australia continues to
work towards.4
All four local areas with the lowest percentages of adults
who were daily smokers were in the wealthiest innercity suburbs in New South Wales and Victoria.
Although the percentage of adults who smoked daily
increased with geographic remoteness and lower
socioeconomic status, there was still considerable
variation across local areas with similar characteristics.
Healthy Communities: Tobacco smoking rates across Australia, 2011–12
In 2011–12, four Medicare Local catchments (all in
Metro 1) had adult smoking rates of 10% or less:
• 6% Sydney North Shore and Beaches (NSW)
• 8% Inner East Melbourne (Vic)
• 10% Bayside (Vic)
• 10% Inner West Sydney (NSW).
Prevention
Prevention
Adults
Adultswho
whosmoke
smokedaily
daily
Fair
Faircomparisons
comparisons
Year
Yearofofdata:
data:2011–12
2011–12
••Medicare
MedicareLocal
Localcatchments
catchmentstotobebecompared
compared
within
withinthe
thesame
samemetropolitan,
metropolitan,regional
regionalororrural
rural
peer
peergroup,
group,and
and
Percentage
Percentageofofadults
adultswho
whoare
aredaily
daily
smokers,
smokers,2011–12
2011–12
••Medicare
MedicareLocal
Localcatchments
catchmentstotobebecompared
compared
with
withthe
theaverage
averageforfortheir
theirpeer
peergroup.
group.
311311
Results
forfor
Medicare
Local
catchments
Results
Medicare
Local
catchments
were
ranked
from
highest
toto
lowest
and
were
ranked
from
highest
lowest
and
then
split
into
five
equal-sized
groups.
then
split
into
five
equal-sized
groups.
The
range
within
each
ofof
the
The
range
within
each
the
five
groups
was
asas
follows:
five
groups
was
follows:
701701
508508
310310
vi.vi.
309309
2222
– 28%
– 28%
It Italso
alsoallows
allowsvariation
variationtotobebeseen
seenacross
acrosspeer
peer
groups
groupsthat
thatmay
maybebeassociated
associatedwith
withremoteness
remoteness
and
andsocioeconomic
socioeconomicstatus.
status.
308308
307307
1919
– 21%
– 21%
306306
1717
– 18%
– 18%
507507
Lowest
Lowest
group
group
1414
– 16%
– 16%
114114 113113
405405
6 –6 13%
– 13%
115115
213213
404404
214214
216216 117117
211211
215215
i. i.
ii. ii.
iv.iv.
111111
NEWCASTLE
NEWCASTLE
vi.vi.
Brisbane
and
Brisbane
and
surrounding
areas
surrounding
areas
iii.iii.
306306 Numbers
onon
map
areare
Numbers
map
Medicare
Local
Medicare
Local
catchment
boundary
catchment
boundary
v. v.
Sydney
and
Sydney
and
surrounding
areas
surrounding
areas
217217
212212
Medicare
Local
reference
codes
Medicare
Local
reference
codes
ii. ii.
Adelaide
and
Adelaide
and
surrounding
areas
surrounding
areas
109109
106106
iii.iii.
Melbourne
and
Melbourne
and
surrounding
areas
surrounding
areas
307307
502502
PERTH
PERTH
401401
405405
211211
104104
102102
101101
ADELAIDE
ADELAIDE
402402
103103
204204
201201
206206
203203
202202
404404
506506
403403
210210
SUNSHINE
SUNSHINE
COAST
COAST
SYDNEY
SYDNEY
301301
306306
205205
503503
504504
505505
CANBERRA
CANBERRA
215215
501501
ROCKINGHAM
ROCKINGHAM
216216
304304
107107
108108
105105
iv.iv.
Canberra
and
Canberra
and
surrounding
areas
surrounding
areas
214214
MELBOURNE
MELBOURNE 208208
BRISBANE
BRISBANE
801801
207207
117117
110110
WOLLONGONG
WOLLONGONG
305305
302302
217217
GOLD
GOLD
COAST
COAST
303303
209209
GEELONG
GEELONG
113113
Notes:
excludes
adults
living
in non-private
dwellings,
very
remote
areas,
and
discrete
Aboriginal
and
Torres
Strait
Islander
communities.
Notes: Survey
Survey
excludes
adults
living
in non-private
dwellings,
very
remote
areas,
and
discrete
Aboriginal
and
Torres
Strait
Islander
communities.
Source:
Bureau
of Statistics,
Australian
Health
Survey
2011–13.
Source:Australian
Australian
Bureau
of Statistics,
Australian
Health
Survey
2011–13.
Data
can
bebe
downloaded
from
www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au
Data
can
downloaded
from
www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au
www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au
South
Western
Melbourne
..................
203
South
Western
Melbourne
..................
203
# ..............................
# ..............................
504
Bentley-Armadale
504
Bentley-Armadale
Eastern
Melbourne
..............................
207
Eastern
Melbourne
..............................
207
Greater
Metro
South
Brisbane
.............
302
Greater
Metro
South
Brisbane
.............
302
Perth
North
Metro
...............................
502
Perth
North
Metro
...............................
502
Metro
North
Brisbane
..........................
301
Metro
North
Brisbane
..........................
301
Perth
Central
& East
Metro
..................
501
Perth
Central
& East
Metro
..................
501
Gold
Coast
.........................................
303
Gold
Coast
.........................................
303
Central
Adelaide
& Hills
.......................
402
Central
Adelaide
& Hills
.......................
402
..#403
Sthn
Adelaide-Fleurieu-Kangaroo
Is.#Is.
.. 403
Sthn
Adelaide-Fleurieu-Kangaroo
South
Eastern
Sydney
........................
103
South
Eastern
Sydney
........................
103
# ..........................................
# ..........................................
503
Fremantle
503
Fremantle
Metro
33
Metro
Macedon
Ranges
& NW
Melb
.............
204
Macedon
Ranges
& NW
Melb
.............
204
West
Moreton-Oxley
...........................
305
West
Moreton-Oxley
...........................
305
Northern
Adelaide
...............................
401
Northern
Adelaide
...............................
401
Northern
Melbourne
............................
205
Northern
Melbourne
............................
205
South
Western
Sydney
.......................
104
South
Western
Sydney
.......................
104
South
Eastern
Melbourne....................
208
South
Eastern
Melbourne....................
208
Western
Sydney..................................
105
Western
Sydney..................................
105
Regional
22
Regional
601601
i. Perth
and
i. Perth
and
surrounding
areas
surrounding
areas
Metro
22
Metro
Nepean-Blue
Mountains
......................
106
Nepean-Blue
Mountains
......................
106
Illawarra-Shoalhaven
...........................
110
Illawarra-Shoalhaven
...........................
110
Frankston-Mornington
Peninsula
.........
209
Frankston-Mornington
Peninsula
.........
209
Perth
South
Coastal
............................
505
Perth
South
Coastal
............................
505
Central
Coast
NSW
.............................
109
Central
Coast
NSW
.............................
109
Barwon
...............................................
210
Barwon
...............................................
210
Hunter
................................................
111
Hunter
................................................
111
Sunshine
Coast
..................................
304
Sunshine
Coast
..................................
304
111111
v. v.
116116
Northern
Sydney
.................................
107
Northern
Sydney
.................................
107
Inner
NW
Melbourne
...........................
201
Inner
NW
Melbourne
...........................
201
# .................
# .................
801
Australian
Capital
Territory
801
Australian
Capital
Territory
Eastern
Sydney...................................
101
Eastern
Sydney...................................
101
Inner
West
Sydney
..............................
102
Inner
West
Sydney
..............................
102
Bayside
..............................................
202
Bayside
..............................................
202
Inner
East
Melbourne
..........................
206
Inner
East
Melbourne
..........................
206
# .........
# .........
108
Sydney
North
Shore
& Beaches
108
Sydney
North
Shore
& Beaches
Regional
11
Regional
118118
506506
Not
available
forfor
Not
available
publication
publication
Map
Ref.
Map
Ref.
Metro
11
Metro
ToTocompare
compareMedicare
MedicareLocals
Localsmore
morefairly,
fairly,each
each
Medicare
MedicareLocal
Localcatchment
catchmenthas
hasbeen
beengrouped
groupedinto
into
one
oneofofseven
sevenpeer
peergroups,
groups,based
basedononremoteness
remoteness
and
andsocioeconomic
socioeconomicstatus.
status.This
Thisallows:
allows:
InIn2011–12,
2011–12,the
thepercentage
percentageofofadults
adultswho
whosmoked
smokeddaily
dailyvaried
variedacross
acrossMedicare
MedicareLocal
Localcatchments,
catchments,
ranging
rangingfrom
from6%
6%toto28%.
28%.
Highest
Highest
group
group
Peer
Peergroups
groups
Statistically
significant
variation
(at (at
thethe
95%
confidence
level)
from
Statistically
significant
variation
95%
confidence
level)
from
thethe
peer
group
result.
peer
group
result.
† †
This
area
hashas
>5%
of its
population
in very
remote
areas.
This
area
>5%
of its
population
in very
remote
areas.
95%
confidence
interval
– not
shown
if <3.5%.
95%
confidence
interval
– not
shown
if <3.5%.
NPNP
NotNot
available
forfor
publication.
available
publication.
More
information
can
bebe
found
at www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au
More
information
can
found
at www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au
and
in this
report’s
Technical
Note.
and
in this
report’s
Technical
Note.
# #
# ........................................
# ........................................
Grampians
211
Grampians
211
Goulburn
Valley
...................................
215
Goulburn
Valley
...................................
215
Hume
.................................................
216
Hume
.................................................
216
Wide
Bay
............................................
307
Wide
Bay
............................................
307
Loddon-Mallee-Murray
........................
214
Loddon-Mallee-Murray
........................
214
New
England
......................................
114
New
England
......................................
114
Tasmania
............................................
601
Tasmania
............................................
601
Western
NSW
.....................................
115
Western
NSW
.....................................
115
South
West
WAWA
..................................
506
South
West
..................................
506
Great
South
Coast
..............................
212
Great
South
Coast
..............................
212
Country
South
SASA
...............................
404
Country
South
...............................
404
Darling
Downs-SW
QldQld
.......................
306
Darling
Downs-SW
.......................
306
Southern
NSW
....................................
117
Southern
NSW
....................................
117
Gippsland
...........................................
217
Gippsland
...........................................
217
#..............................
#..............................
113
North
Coast
NSW
113
North
Coast
NSW
Murrumbidgee
....................................
116
Murrumbidgee
....................................
116
Rural
11
Rural
Townsville-Mackay
..............................
310
Townsville-Mackay
..............................
310
† ..............................
† ..............................
405
Country
North
SASA
405
Country
North
Central
QldQld
.........................................
308
Central
.........................................
308
†...................................
†...................................
118
FarFar
West
NSW
118
West
NSW
Lower
Murray
.....................................
213
Lower
Murray
.....................................
213
Rural
2†2†
Rural
National
overviews
National
overviews
0% 0%10%10%20%20%30%30%40%40%
10%
10%
14%
14%
13%
13%
13%
13%
11%
11%
10%
10%
10%
10%
8%8%
6%6%
0% 0%10%10%20%20%30%30%40%40%
16%
16%
22%
22%
20%
20%
17%
17%
17%
17%
16%
16%
16%
16%
16%
16%
15%
15%
14%
14%
13%
13%
13%
13%
12%
12%
0% 0%10%10%20%20%30%30%40%40%
17%
17%
22%
22%
19%
19%
18%
18%
17%
17%
16%
16%
15%
15%
14%
14%
0% 0%10%10%20%20%30%30%40%40%
17%
17%
21%
21%
20%
20%
19%
19%
18%
18%
17%
17%
14%
14%
14%
14%
14%
14%
0% 0%10%10%20%20%30%30%40%40%
19%
19%
28%
28%
23%
23%
22%
22%
22%
22%
21%
21%
21%
21%
21%
21%
20%
20%
20%
20%
20%
20%
19%
19%
17%
17%
17%
17%
15%
15%
14%
14%
NPNP
0% 0%10%10%20%20%30%30%40%40%
23%
23%
23%
23%
23%
23%
22%
22%
16%
16%
NPNP
0% 0%10%10%20%20%30%30%40%40%
25%
25%
† ............................
† ............................
Goldfields-Midwest
507
26%
Goldfields-Midwest
507 26%
† ....................................
† ....................................
311
FarFar
North
QldQld
311 25%
25%
North
† ..............................
† ..............................
701
Northern
Territory
701 24%
Northern
Territory
24%
† ..............................
† ..............................
309
Central
& NW
QldQld
NPNP
309
Central
& NW
† ..............................
† ..............................
508
Kimberley-Pilbara
NPNP
508
Kimberley-Pilbara
Healthy Communities: Tobacco smoking rates across Australia, 2011–12
Table 1: Estimated tobacco smoking rates across Medicare Locals, 2011–12, grouped by state and territory
Tobacco
smoking rate
Estimated number of
adult daily smokers*
New South Wales
Hume
Loddon-Mallee-Murray
Nepean-Blue Mountains
New England
Illawarra-Shoalhaven
Western NSW
Central Coast NSW
Southern NSW
Far West NSW
South Western Sydney
Hunter
North Coast NSW
Northern Sydney
Western Sydney
South Eastern Sydney
Eastern Sydney
Inner West Sydney
Sydney North Shore & Beaches
Lower Murray
Murrumbidgee
14%
22%
21%
21%
21%
20%
20%
17%
17%
16%
16%
14%
14%
14%
14%
13%
11%
10%
6%
NP
NP
0%
Victoria
Grampians
Goulburn Valley
Hume
Macedon Ranges & NW Melb
South Western Melbourne
Loddon-Mallee-Murray
Great South Coast
Frankston-Mornington Peninsula
Eastern Melbourne
Northern Melbourne
Gippsland
South Eastern Melbourne
Barwon
Inner NW Melbourne
Bayside
Inner East Melbourne
Lower Murray
16%
28%
23%
22%
22%
22%
21%
20%
19%
17%
17%
15%
15%
14%
13%
10%
8%
NP
0%
Queensland
Far North Qld
Townsville-Mackay
Central Qld
Wide Bay
West Moreton-Oxley
Darling Downs-SW Qld
Greater Metro South Brisbane
Metro North Brisbane
Gold Coast
Sunshine Coast
Central & NW Qld
18%
25%
23%
22%
22%
19%
17%
17%
16%
15%
14%
NP
0%
South Australia
Country North SA
Country South SA
Northern Adelaide
Central Adelaide & Hills
Sthn Adelaide-Fleurieu-Kangaroo Is.
16%
23%
19%
18%
14%
13%
0%
Western Australia
Goldfields-Midwest
Bentley-Armadale
South West WA
Perth South Coastal
Perth Central & East Metro
Perth North Metro
Fremantle
Kimberley-Pilbara
18%
26%
20%
20%
18%
16%
16%
12%
NP
0%
Tasmania
Tasmania
21%
21%
0%
Northern Territory
Northern Territory
24%
24%
0%
Australian Capital Territory
Australian Capital Territory
13%
13%
0%
NATIONAL TOTAL
16%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
34,000
35,000
56,000
29,000
59,000
39,000
43,000
25,000
5,000
105,000
74,000
55,000
42,000
87,000
46,000
35,000
48,000
22,000
NP
NP
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45,000
26,000
34,000
79,000
42,000
35,000
15,000
42,000
54,000
80,000
30,000
53,000
31,000
49,000
47,000
41,000
NP
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
50,000
70,000
35,000
35,000
51,000
37,000
116,000
111,000
61,000
39,000
NP
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
34,000
20,000
54,000
58,000
41,000
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
25,000
62,000
44,000
31,000
57,000
64,000
22,000
NP
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
81,000
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
40,000
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
36,000
2,777,000
95% confidence interval.
*
Estimates were obtained by multiplying the estimated resident adult population by the estimated smoking percentage, and rounding to the nearest 1000.
Source: Estimated Resident Population 30 June 2011 and Australian Bureau of Statistics, Australian Health Survey 2011–13.
MyHealthyCommunities
About the data
The data were sourced from the Australian Bureau of
Statistics Australian Health Survey 2011–13. Participants
in the survey aged 18 years and over were asked whether
they smoked at least once a day. A current daily smoker
was defined as a person who smokes one or more
cigarettes, roll-your-own cigarettes, cigars or pipes at
least once a day. Chewing tobacco and the smoking
of non-tobacco products were excluded. For
more information refer to the Technical Note at
www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au/publications
Visit www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au
to see how your local area is performing. This
interactive website lets you see the results for
over 40 health measures including:
What is the National Health
Performance Authority?
• Childhood immunisation rates
• Waiting times for GPs
• After-hours GP attendances.
Compare your local area with other similar
areas across Australia – or see how Medicare
Locals in diverse parts of the country are
performing when it comes to delivering
community health services. This powerful
website not only enables the public to make
informed decisions, it empowers clinicians
and service providers to drive improvements
in health.
We are an independent government agency that provides
information on health care organisations at a local level
across Australia. We produce regular reports and publish
data online at www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au and
www.myhospitals.gov.au
The Performance Authority’s activities are guided by a
document called the Performance and Accountability
Framework agreed by the Council of Australian
Governments. The framework contains 48 indicators that
form the basis for the Performance Authority’s reports.
For more information, go to www.nhpa.gov.au
What is a Medicare Local?
Medicare Locals plan, fund and deliver
health services to meet the needs of
communities across Australia. They
help to ensure patients can access the
co-ordinated care they need, particularly
when a variety of health workers are
involved in providing treatments.
For more information, go to
www.medicarelocals.gov.au
www.nhpa.gov.au
www.myhealthycommunities.gov.au
www.myhospitals.gov.au
© Copyright National Health Performance Authority 2013
ISSN: 2202-9184
Suggested citation: National Health Performance Authority 2013, Healthy
Communities: Tobacco smoking rates across Australia, 2011–12 (In Focus)
Please note that there is the potential for minor revisions of this document.