The Ministry of Health published today (Wednesday) the annual report on the state of smoking in Israel for 2023, which deals with the health damage caused by smoking tobacco products - and presents a snapshot of the smoking epidemic in Israel.
According to the report, in 2023, 20.51% of the adult population smoked, a slight increase compared to 20.11% from the survey conducted in 2020.
A particularly disturbing statistic in the report shows that the rate of smokers of regular cigarettes at least once a day among students in grades 5-6 is 31%. Among students in grades 11-12, the rate of daily smokers is almost 91%.
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About 111% of students in Israel have smoked cigarettes at least once in the past month. More boys (221%) than girls (151%). As age increases, more students report having smoked: 51% in grades 5-6, compared to 181% in grades 11-12.
In an international comparison, Israel is ranked 14th in this index among 42 countries.
About 121% of the students who participated in the survey responded that they had tried an electronic cigarette at least once in the past month. Among students in grades 11-12, the figure was 17.6%. In total, about 141% of all students had tried a regular or electronic cigarette at least once in the past month. 231% of students in grades 11-12, and about 101% of students in grade 7.
The data also shows that among men, the rate of smokers is more than twice that among women. The highest smoking rate was recorded among Arab men - 39%, while the lowest - among Arab women - 6.3%.
Between 2016 and 2023, a downward trend in smoking rates was observed only among Jewish women. There were no significant changes in the other population groups.
The group with the highest smoking rate is Arab men (39%), followed by Jewish men (25.6%, an increase from 22% in 2020), Jewish women (14.6%), and Arab women (6.3%).
For the first time, smoking rates by level of religiosity were examined among Jews in the adult population. The smoking rate was highest among traditional (25.6%), and specifically among traditional men (34.1%). In contrast, the lowest rate was observed among Haredi (9.8%), and specifically among Haredi women (2.0%).
More data:
• In an international comparison, the daily smoking rate in Israel for men (23% reported smoking daily) is in the 20th highest place and above the OECD average of 20%. Among women, the daily rate is 9% and lower than the average of 12%.
• Smoking causes approximately 8,000 deaths per year - approximately 101% of which are among non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke - as a result of malignant diseases, cardiovascular diseases including stroke, respiratory diseases, diabetes, and more.
• In the area of enforcement, there was a decrease in the number of fines handed out as part of the enforcement of the law to prevent smoking in public places. In 2023, 3,864 reports and fines were issued for smoking in public spaces, compared to 10,115 in 2022.
• Households in Israel spent nearly ten billion shekels in 2023 on the purchase of various smoking products.
• E-cigarettes are also gaining popularity among adult smokers: 2.31% of adult respondents said they use an e-cigarette or heated tobacco product. This is an increase from a previous survey when the rate of users was 1.41%.
• According to data from the Tax Authority: State revenue from purchase taxes on all tobacco products in 2023 was approximately 8.3 billion shekels.
• The estimated direct and indirect cost of smoking damage to the health system is approximately 1.7 billion shekels per year. Additional indirect costs, for the entire economy, are caused by productivity losses, loss of work capacity and sick days - and are estimated at approximately 1.9 billion shekels per year. This estimate, the authors of the report note - is low compared to various models in various Western countries - and is outdated and has not been updated for nearly a decade.
