A new prediction has suggested that smoking may be ageing into extinction. In 2021, just under a third (31%) of active smokers in England were aged 60 and over.[1] Just under a quarter (24%) of smokers were aged between 35 and 49, 17% were between 25 and 34, and 16% were between 50 and 59. The younger smokers, aged between 16 to 24, only represented 13% of the total overall population of smokers in England.
Using historical ONS data from 2000 to 2021 and a machine learning algorithm, Go.Compare Life Insurance has predicted how the number of active smokers in England will decline over the next few years. According to these projections, England will become smoke-free by 2044, and the country’s ageing smokers may be the reason why.[2]
The decline of smoking isn’t just aided by it being an ageing trend, but also by the fact that the biggest percentage of smokers are also the most eager to quit. 37% of English smokers who quit in 2021 were aged 60 and over.
Overall, a third (34%) of English smokers in 2021 stated they wanted to quit, but had no set time frame for doing so. Meanwhile, over a fifth (22%) said they wanted to quit in the next three months. Only 15% of smokers stated they had no intention of quitting.
Matt Sanders, life insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: “There are many factors contributing to the steady decline of smoking, and if our predictions are correct, England will finally be smoke-free by 2044. It’s particularly good to see that older generations are leading the way when it comes to quitting, especially as smoking is more prevalent among them. It’s never too late to quit, as it improves your health regardless of your age.
“Quitting is also very likely to lower the cost of life insurance. You will be considered smoke-free if you haven’t consumed any nicotine products in the last 12 months, so it can have some significant benefits for your finances, too.
“Those looking for extra support to quit smoking can turn to free local services accessed through the NHS, or can partake in Stoptober by attempting to abstain from smoking for the remainder of October.”
