Daily smoking rates in Australia have fallen to a historic low, with only 5.6% of people aged 14 and above smoking daily in 2025, down from 8.3% in 2022–23, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) National Drug Strategy Household Survey. The data, based on responses from over 17,500 participants, shows that the country is ahead of its National Tobacco Strategy target of less than 10% by 2025 and on track for the 5% or less goal by 2030.
Rise in Illicit Tobacco Use
Despite the overall decline, the survey revealed a significant increase in the use of illicit tobacco among those who smoke. In 2025, 34% of smokers reported recent use of illicit tobacco, more than doubling from 16.7% in 2022–23. Specifically, 22% had purchased branded illicit tobacco without plain packaging or health warnings in the previous three months, while one in six smoked unbranded products sold loose, often in plastic bags. More than half (57%) of those who bought branded illicit tobacco obtained it from a tobacconist.
Nicotine Use Declining Overall
The AIHW found that overall nicotine use is declining, with the proportion of people using any nicotine falling to 15.2% in 2025 from 17.4% in 2022–23. Cancer Council Australia’s CEO, Jacinta Reddan, highlighted that more than two-thirds of Australians aged 14 and above have never smoked, a historic high. She attributed the decline to measures such as plain packaging, taxation, advertising restrictions, and public education, noting that smoking still kills 66 Australians daily.
Expert Views on Illicit Tobacco
Prof Caroline Miller, president of the Public Health Association of Australia, praised the survey as the best in the business due to its consistent methodology and large sample size. She emphasized that tackling illicit tobacco requires enforcement and regulation, not tax cuts. Prof Becky Freeman, a tobacco control expert at the University of Sydney, argued that reducing the tobacco excise would not deter illicit use, as illicit tobacco remains cheap and accessible. She called for stronger licensing schemes and a reduction in the number of retailers selling tobacco, currently around 40,000.
Vaping and Nicotine Pouches
The survey also showed that current vaping among 18-to-24-year-olds dropped from 20.6% in 2022–23 to 14%, while daily vaping remained stable across all age groups. However, illicit nicotine pouches and traditional snus, captured for the first time, were gaining ground: 8.4% of 18-to-24-year-olds used pouches and 3.8% used snus in the past year. Alecia Brooks, chair of Cancer Council’s national tobacco issues committee, said that tackling these products will require both enforcement and prevention measures.
