The share of U.S. adults who smoke cigarettes fell to 9.9% in 2024, the first time it has dropped below 10% since records began, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The figure marks a 77% decline from 1965, when 42.4% of adults smoked, based on the CDC’s National Health Interview Survey.

Public health experts attribute the long-term decrease to measures such as higher tobacco taxes, smoke-free laws, public education campaigns and cessation support services.

Despite the decline, more than 25 million U.S. adults still smoke, and tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the country. Cigarette smoking is estimated to kill nearly 500,000 Americans annually and generate more than $241 billion in direct healthcare costs each year.

The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids said recent cuts to federal tobacco control infrastructure could threaten further progress. These include the elimination of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, which has historically supported prevention programs and public awareness campaigns.

The group also highlighted disparities in tobacco use and related health impacts across different demographic and socioeconomic groups, and called for continued implementation of evidence-based tobacco control policies.