What is the Percentage of Doctors who Smoke?
Doctors Smoking Statistics for 2025-09-09.
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Here’s what the latest research reveals:
Global Average: ~21% of Doctors Smoke
A major systematic review and meta-analysis across 246 studies covering 497,081 physicians found that the overall prevalence of smoking among doctors is about 21% (with a 95% confidence interval of 20–23%)
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I. By Specialty:
1. Medical students: 25%
2. Family practitioners: 24%
3. Surgical specialties: 18%
5. Medical (other) specialties: 16%
6. Anesthesiologists: 11%
7. Radiologists: 9%
8. Pediatricians: 8%
II. By Region:
1. Europe & Asia: higher rates, around 25%
2. Oceania: lower rates, around 11%
III. Over Time:
1. Before 1985: 28%
2. 1985–2000: 22%
3. 2000–2015: 20%
4. After 2015: 16%
IV. Specific Countries & Contexts
1. In a Cyprus hospital study, smoking prevalence among physicians was 28.6%, nearly identical to nurses (28.1%)
2. In Syrian university hospital physicians, smoking was 22.1%, compared to a higher general population rate of 37.7%
3. Historically (circa 2010–2011) in the U.S., one JAMA study reported only 1.95% of doctors were current smokers, significantly lower than the 16.08% in the general population at the time
4. A similar figure emerges in the UK, where a survey in several hospitals found 2.6% of doctors and 3.8% of medical students were current smokers—much lower than the overall 7% for all healthcare professionals
Summary Table:
| Context | Smoking Rate among Doctors |
|---|---|
| Global (Average): | ~21% |
| Medical Students: | 25% |
| Family Practitioners: | 24% |
| Surgeons: | 18% |
| Anesthesiologists: | 11% |
| Pediatricians: | 8% |
| Europe & Asia | ~25% |
| Oceania | ~11% |
| After 2015 (overall trend): | ~16% |
| Cyprus (hospital-based): | 28.6% |
| Syria (university hospital) | 22.1% | U.S. (2010–11, JAMA study) | 1.95% | UK (hospital survey) | 2.6% |
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Key Insights:
1. Global average: Around one in five physicians smoke—but this figure obscures significant variation.
2. Specialty matters: Medical students and outpatient doctors tend to smoke more than anesthesiologists or pediatricians.
3. Geographical and historical differences: Rates vary widely by region and have generally declined over time in many areas.
4. Regional exceptions: In Western countries like the U.S. and UK, rates among doctors tend to be particularly low—around 2–3%.
Final Thought:
So, if you’re asking, “What percentage of doctors smoke?” – the most accurate general answer: About 21% worldwide, with substantial variation depending on speciality, geography, and time period.
