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Based on data released by the Hong Kong government, the city's smoking prevalence has dropped to a record low.

📉 New Low in Smoking Rate

According to the Thematic Household Survey Report No. 84 published by the Census and Statistics Department in late May 2026, Hong Kong's overall daily cigarette smoking rate fell to 8.6% in 2025, down from 9.1% in 2023. This translates to approximately 572,700 daily conventional smokers, a decrease from the 612,700 recorded two years prior. Both the rate and the absolute number of smokers are the lowest since records began.

🎯 Steady Progress Toward an Ambitious Goal

This decline continues a long-term downward trend and represents steady progress toward the government's target. The rate has dropped from 23.3% in 1982 to 8.6% in 2025, marking a total reduction of 14.7 percentage points. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has set an ambitious goal in its "Vibrant, Healthy and Tobacco-free Hong Kong" policy blueprint to further reduce the smoking prevalence to 7.8% by 2025 (note: data for 2025 was just released, showing the goal is yet to be fully achieved).

🚭 Factors Contributing to the Decline

While government statements did not attribute the decline to any single measure, the reduction aligns with a series of robust tobacco control policies launched in recent years, including:

  • Expanded Smoking Bans: In February 2026, the smoking ban was extended to cover queues for public transport, hospital premises, and school campuses.
  • Health Warnings: The government introduced 12 new health warning designs for cigarette packs in 2026.
  • Duty and Enforcement: A proposal to ban the possession of alternative smoking products (like e-cigarettes) in public was under consultation. While a significant one-time cigarette duty increase was shelved in February 2026, the government continues to enhance enforcement against illicit cigarettes and public smoking offenses.

🗣️ Official Remarks

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, noted that the decline in the smoking rate is encouraging but emphasized that continuous efforts are needed to achieve a single-digit rate and the long-term vision of a "tobacco-free Hong Kong." The government plans to table further legislative proposals to strengthen the tobacco control regime.

👀 By the Numbers: Other Smoking Data

The survey also provided data on other tobacco habits in 2025:

  • Daily e-cigarette users: 1.3% (approximately 84,000 people).
  • Daily heated tobacco product users: 0.4% (approximately 23,200 people).
  • Daily users of other alternative smoking products: 0.5%.

The government's goal is to reduce the overall smoking rate to 7.8% by 2026. The latest data from the 2025 survey will serve as a crucial benchmark for assessing progress toward this target.