The latest figures from the Integrated Household Survey suggest 16.4% of the adult population in Devon smoke as illustrated in figure 9.7. This is below the South West (17.3%), local authority comparator group (16.7%) and England rate (18.4%). As shown in figure 9.8, smoking rates have fallen in recent years.
Figure 9.7, Adult Smoking Rate (%), Devon Local Authority Comparator Group, 2013
Source: Office for National Statistics Integrated Household Survey, 2014
Figure 9.8, Trend in Adult Smoking Rate (%), Devon, 2010 to 2013
Source: Office for National Statistics Integrated Household Survey, 2014
Smoking rates are higher in more deprived areas and are higher in males than females, as illustrated in figure 9.9. This contributes to higher levels of smoking in routine and manual occupational groups (24.6% in Devon), although as seen in figure 9.10 the gap has decreased over the last few years. Figure 9.11 reveals the pattern of smoking prevalence across the county, with higher rates in Exeter, North Devon, and parts of Teignbridge
Figure 9.9, Adult Smoking Prevalence by Deprivation, England, 2012
Source: Office for National Statistics General Lifestyle Survey, 2012
Figure 9.10, Trend in Adult Smoking Rate (%), Routine and Manual occupations and overall rate, Devon, 2011 to 2013
Source: Office for National Statistics Integrated Household Survey, 2014
Figure 9.11, Map of Smoking Prevalence by Middle Layer Super Output Area in Devon, 2003 to 2005
Source: Office for National Statistics Synthetic Estimates of Health Behaviours