South-west sees biggest jump, up 17% between 2020 and 2024, while rate in southern England increases by 10%

Smoking rates in parts of England have increased for the first time in nearly two decades, according to research.

Academics at University College London examined smoking data for more than 350,000 adults in England over an 18-year period. They found that while the proportion of adults who smoke cigarettes, pipes, cigars or other forms of tobacco fell from 25.3% of the population in 2006 to 16.5% in 2024, progress since 2020 has flatlined and in some areas smoking rates are increasing again.