Smoking report is alarming: One in 5 Israelis smokes, decline halted

December 13, 2021   

Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz presented today (Monday) an updated annual report on the smoking epidemic in Israel, which shows that in 2020 there was no decrease in smoking rates in the country. According to the data, about a quarter (20.1%) of the adult population over the age of 21 reported being smokers. According to the report, there is a higher rate of smokers among men (25.6%) compared to women (14.8%), and among Arabs (24.4%) compared to Jews (19.1%). However, the comparison between Jews and Arabs does not fully reflect the situation, due to higher smoking rates among Arab men (38.2%) compared to Jewish men (22.6%), alongside lower smoking rates among Arab women (10.2%) compared to Jewish women (15.8%). It also emerged that in the general population, lower smoking rates were observed among interviewees with higher education (17.4%), compared to those with medium and low education. A similar trend was observed in all population groups. The smoking rates in the report are based on the findings of the 'Israel National Health Survey - 4' (INHIS-4) conducted by the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) at the Ministry of Health, between December 2018 and March 2020. The report presents an overview of legislative and enforcement activity in the field of smoking, smoking cessation in Israel, and various economic data related to smoking, including state revenue from tobacco taxes, the volume of national cigarette consumption, and the volume of investment by the cigarette industry to promote and encourage smoking among young people and in general. The data in the report:  • The smoking rate among men was higher than among women: 25.6% compared to 14.8% • The smoking rate among Arabs was higher than among Jews: 24.4% compared to 19.1% • The comparison between Jews and Arabs does not fully reflect the situation due to higher smoking rates among Arab men (38.2%) compared to Jewish men (22.6%) alongside lower smoking rates among Arab women (10.2%) compared to Jewish women (15.8%). • In the general population, lower smoking rates were observed among interviewees with higher education (17.4%) compared to those with medium and low education. A similar trend was observed in all population groups.