Study: Smokers and Smoking-Related Cancer Deaths by State
3rd May 2019
What state has the most smokers? Looking only at the percentage of smokers by state, the worst is West Virginia, where 21.7% of the population smokes cigarettes. Kentucky ranks #2, with 21.1% of locals smoking cigarettes.
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Cigarettes are rife with negative health risks, and it’s no wonder that the top two states that have the highest percentage of cigarette-smokers also have the highest percentage of deaths from smoking-related cancers. Kentucky, which has the highest percentage of deaths from smoking-related cancers, losing about 10,165 people, outranks West Virginia, which lost 1,581, a slim margin in terms of percentage of state population.
Top 10 States With the Highest Percentage of Cigarette-Smokers
These are the top 10 states with the most smokers, according to CDC data on smoking rates by state:
1. West Virginia: 21.7%
2. Kentucky: 21.1%
3. Wyoming: 20.2%
4. Arkansas: 20%
5. Ohio: 19%
6. Indiana: 18.9%
7. South Dakota: 18.8%
8. Louisiana: 18.6%
9. Mississippi: 18.5%
10. Oklahoma: 18.5%
States by Percentage of the Population Who Die from Smoking-Related Cancers
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Top 10 States With the Most Smoking-Related Cancer Deaths
These are the percentages of the population who die per year from smoking-related cancers, according to data from a JAMA Internal Medicine study cross-checked against U.S. Census population data:
1. Kentucky: 0.23% (10,165 deaths)
2. West Virginia: 0.085% (1,581 deaths)
3. Arkansas: 0.07% (2,175 deaths)
4. Tennessee: 0.07% (4,613 deaths)
5. Maine: 0.07% (927 deaths)
6. Missouri: 0.068% (4,047 deaths)
7. Louisiana: 0.067% (3,044 deaths)
8. Mississippi: 0.067% (1,992 deaths)
9. Florida: 0.067% (12,596 deaths)
10. Alabama: 0.066% (3,183 deaths)
Looking carefully at data on smoking by state, we can see trends and a common theme: High percentages of harmful forms of smoking like cigarette use combined with low access to health care may lead to a deadly combination for smokers.
If you’ve struggled to quit and considering vaping as an alternative, here’s a guide to what you can come to expect from the transition.