This is the unadjusted average (mean) in the specified population.
The average (mean) age in years when people first tried smoking was
15.7
Time trends
This chart presents unadjusted results; that is the overall prevalence estimate for each survey year. Data points only appear where there is data available.
The comparison between years is only available where the same questions were asked in more than one survey year.
Average age of first try
Age and sex
Average age of first try
Ethnicity (total)
Total response ethnicity means that people who reported belonging to more than one ethnic group are counted once in each group they reported.
Average age of first try
Source:
Health and Lifestyles Survey
Notes:
Missing bar in chart indicates insufficient sample size.
Mean for selected indicator
Show
Total
Men
Women
Average age of first try
(.95CI)
Average age of first try
(.95CI)
Average age of first try
(.95CI)
Total
15.7
( 15.4 - 15.9 )
15.4
( 15.1 - 15.8 )
15.9
( 15.6 - 16.3 )
Age group (years)
16-24
15.8
( 15.3 - 16.2 )
15.8
( 15.1 - 16.5 )
15.8
( 15.3 - 16.4 )
25-44
16.0
( 15.6 - 16.4 )
16.3
( 15.8 - 16.8 )
15.6
( 15 - 16.2 )
45-64
15.4
( 14.9 - 15.9 )
14.8
( 14.1 - 15.5 )
16.1
( 15.4 - 16.8 )
65+
15.4
( 14.8 - 15.9 )
14.7
( 13.7 - 15.6 )
16.2
( 15.6 - 16.8 )
Ethnicity (total)
Māori
14.6
( 14.3 - 14.9 )
14.4
( 13.8 - 15 )
14.8
( 14.5 - 15.2 )
Pacific
16.7
( 16 - 17.5 )
16.7
( 15.6 - 17.9 )
16.8
( 15.9 - 17.7 )
Asian
18.1
( 16.7 - 19.4 )
17.3
( 15.6 - 19 )
19.6
( 17.7 - 21.5 )
NZ European / Other
15.4
( 15.1 - 15.7 )
15.1
( 14.8 - 15.5 )
15.7
( 15.3 - 16.1 )
Neighbourhood deprivation
Least (1-3)
15.9
( 15.4 - 16.4 )
15.4
( 14.7 - 16.1 )
16.5
( 15.9 - 17.2 )
Mid (4-7)
15.7
( 15.3 - 16.1 )
15.6
( 15.1 - 16.1 )
15.8
( 15.1 - 16.4 )
Most (8-10)
15.3
( 14.8 - 15.8 )
15.1
( 14.3 - 15.9 )
15.5
( 15 - 16 )
Total
Men
Women
Average age of first try
(.95CI)
Average age of first try
(.95CI)
Average age of first try
(.95CI)
Total
15.3
( 15.1 - 15.6 )
15.1
( 14.6 - 15.6 )
15.6
( 15.3 - 16 )
Age group (years)
15-24
15.4
( 14.6 - 16.2 )
15.2
( 13.9 - 16.4 )
15.7
( 14.9 - 16.5 )
25-44
15.5
( 15 - 15.9 )
15.7
( 14.9 - 16.4 )
15.3
( 14.8 - 15.7 )
45-64
15.1
( 14.6 - 15.6 )
15.0
( 14.2 - 15.9 )
15.1
( 14.6 - 15.7 )
65+
15.5
( 14.8 - 16.2 )
14.3
( 13.2 - 15.3 )
17
( 16 - 17.9 )
Ethnicity (total)
Māori
13.9
( 13.5 - 14.3 )
13.5
( 12.8 - 14.2 )
14.2
( 13.8 - 14.7 )
Pacific
16.5
( 15.7 - 17.3 )
16.4
( 15.1 - 17.7 )
16.6
( 15.6 - 17.7 )
Asian
18.9
( 17.3 - 20.6 )
18.5
( 16.8 - 20.2 )
-
-
NZ European / Other
15.2
( 14.9 - 15.5 )
14.9
( 14.3 - 15.4 )
15.5
( 15.2 - 15.9 )
Neighbourhood deprivation
Least (1-3)
15.3
( 14.7 - 15.9 )
14.6
( 13.7 - 15.5 )
16.1
( 15.2 - 17 )
Mid (4-7)
15.8
( 15.3 - 16.3 )
16.0
( 15.1 - 16.8 )
15.5
( 15.1 - 15.9 )
Most (8-10)
14.8
( 14.4 - 15.2 )
14.3
( 13.7 - 15 )
15.3
( 14.6 - 15.9 )
Total
Men
Women
Average age of first try
(.95CI)
Average age of first try
(.95CI)
Average age of first try
(.95CI)
Total
15.3
( 15.1 - 15.5 )
15.1
( 14.8 - 15.4 )
15.5
( 15.3 - 15.8 )
Age group (years)
15-24
15.3
( 14.7 - 15.8 )
15.2
( 14.4 - 16.1 )
15.3
( 14.5 - 16 )
25-44
15.1
( 14.7 - 15.5 )
15.0
( 14.4 - 15.6 )
15.2
( 14.7 - 15.8 )
45-64
15.1
( 14.7 - 15.4 )
15.2
( 14.7 - 15.7 )
14.9
( 14.5 - 15.3 )
65+
16.1
( 15.6 - 16.6 )
15.0
( 14.3 - 15.7 )
17.5
( 16.8 - 18.2 )
Ethnicity (total)
Māori
14.6
( 14.2 - 15.1 )
14.7
( 13.9 - 15.5 )
14.6
( 14.1 - 15.1 )
Pacific
16.0
( 15.2 - 16.8 )
15.5
( 14.3 - 16.6 )
16.6
( 15.5 - 17.7 )
Asian
17.4
( 16.3 - 18.6 )
17.1
( 15.6 - 18.6 )
18.3
( 16.7 - 20 )
NZ European / Other
15.2
( 14.9 - 15.4 )
14.9
( 14.6 - 15.3 )
15.4
( 15.1 - 15.7 )
Neighbourhood deprivation
Least (1-3)
15.7
( 15.3 - 16.1 )
15.7
( 15.1 - 16.3 )
15.7
( 15.2 - 16.2 )
Mid (4-7)
15.2
( 14.9 - 15.5 )
15.0
( 14.6 - 15.5 )
15.4
( 14.9 - 15.9 )
Most (8-10)
15.1
( 14.7 - 15.5 )
14.6
( 14 - 15.3 )
15.6
( 15.2 - 16.1 )
Total
Men
Women
Average age of first try
(.95CI)
Average age of first try
(.95CI)
Average age of first try
(.95CI)
Total
15.0
( 14.7 - 15.3 )
14.6
( 14.2 - 14.9 )
15.4
( 15 - 15.8 )
Age group (years)
15-24
14.8
( 14 - 15.5 )
14.9
( 13.8 - 15.9 )
14.6
( 13.7 - 15.6 )
25-44
14.8
( 14.4 - 15.2 )
14.9
( 14.2 - 15.6 )
14.7
( 14.3 - 15.2 )
45-64
14.8
( 14.3 - 15.3 )
14.0
( 13.4 - 14.5 )
15.5
( 14.7 - 16.3 )
65+
15.9
( 15.2 - 16.6 )
14.7
( 13.9 - 15.5 )
17.3
( 16.3 - 18.4 )
Ethnicity (total)
Māori
13.8
( 13.3 - 14.2 )
13.6
( 12.8 - 14.4 )
13.9
( 13.3 - 14.5 )
Pacific
15.5
( 14.8 - 16.1 )
15.1
( 14.1 - 16 )
16
( 15.1 - 16.9 )
Asian
17.2
( 15.1 - 19.3 )
17.5
( 14.6 - 20.4 )
-
-
NZ European / Other
15.1
( 14.8 - 15.4 )
14.6
( 14.2 - 15 )
15.6
( 15.2 - 16.1 )
Neighbourhood deprivation
Least (1-3)
15.2
( 14.6 - 15.8 )
14.8
( 14.1 - 15.4 )
15.7
( 14.8 - 16.7 )
Mid (4-7)
14.9
( 14.4 - 15.3 )
14.3
( 13.8 - 14.9 )
15.4
( 14.8 - 15.9 )
Most (8-10)
15.0
( 14.5 - 15.5 )
14.6
( 13.9 - 15.4 )
15.3
( 14.6 - 16 )
The estimated number of people is the value that is inferred for that population based on data collected from the survey sample. Estimated numbers are rounded to the nearest 1,000 people.
Source:
Health and Lifestyles Survey
Notes:
This table presents unadjusted results; that is, the prevalence or mean estimates reflect the actual percentage or mean of the population affected in each time period.
Total response measure of ethnicity was used. People who reported belonging to more than one ethnic group are counted once in each group they reported.
Dashes indicate insufficient sample size.
No subgroups comparison available.
Changes over time
This table presents unadjusted results; that is, the mean estimates for the specified population in each survey year. Statistically significant differences between years are shown in bold ( p value < .05).
Show
Unadjusted mean
Statistical significance of difference between years (
p
value)
Population group
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2012 and 2020
2014 and 2020
2016 and 2020
2018 and 2020
Total
15.0
-
15.3
15.3
15.7
.000
-
.046
.116
Men
14.6
-
15.1
15.1
15.4
.001
-
.229
.284
Women
15.4
-
15.5
15.6
15.9
.069
-
.101
.258
Age group (years)
15-24 / 16-24
14.8
-
15.3
15.4
15.8
.023
-
.158
.430
25-44
14.8
-
15.1
15.5
16.0
.000
-
.002
.087
45-64
14.8
-
15.1
15.1
15.4
.061
-
.223
.318
65+
15.9
-
16.1
15.5
15.4
.278
-
.048
.764
Ethnicity (total)
Māori
13.8
-
14.6
13.9
14.6
.005
-
.926
.009
Pacific
15.5
-
16.0
16.5
16.7
.012
-
.188
.716
Asian
17.2
-
17.4
18.9
18.1
.504
-
.482
.403
NZ European / Other
15.1
-
15.2
15.2
15.4
.154
-
.163
.265
Neighbourhood deprivation
Least (1-3)
15.2
-
15.7
15.3
15.9
.052
-
.464
.117
Mid (4-7)
14.9
-
15.2
15.8
15.7
.006
-
.064
.792
Most (8-10)
15.0
-
15.1
14.8
15.3
.407
-
.536
.103
Unadjusted mean
Statistical significance of difference between years (
p
value)
Population group
2012
2014
2016
2018
2012 and 2018
2014 and 2018
2016 and 2018
Total
15.0
-
15.3
15.3
.078
-
.876
Men
14.6
-
15.1
15.1
.078
-
.907
Women
15.4
-
15.5
15.6
.432
-
.679
Age group (years)
15-24 / 16-24
14.8
-
15.3
15.4
.258
-
.755
25-44
14.8
-
15.1
15.5
.038
-
.254
45-64
14.8
-
15.1
15.1
.389
-
.981
65+
15.9
-
16.1
15.5
.483
-
.164
Ethnicity (total)
Māori
13.8
-
14.6
13.9
.709
-
.017
Pacific
15.5
-
16.0
16.5
.045
-
.362
Asian
17.2
-
17.4
18.9
.196
-
.131
NZ European / Other
15.1
-
15.2
15.2
.763
-
.930
Neighbourhood deprivation
Least (1-3)
15.2
-
15.7
15.3
.741
-
.308
Mid (4-7)
14.9
-
15.2
15.8
.007
-
.060
Most (8-10)
15.0
-
15.1
14.8
.497
-
.276
Unadjusted mean
Statistical significance of difference between years (
p
value)
Population group
2012
2014
2016
2012 and 2016
2014 and 2016
Total
15.0
-
15.3
.064
-
Men
14.6
-
15.1
.019
-
Women
15.4
-
15.5
.639
-
Age group (years)
15-24 / 16-24
14.8
-
15.3
.327
-
25-44
14.8
-
15.1
.308
-
45-64
14.8
-
15.1
.311
-
65+
15.9
-
16.1
.552
-
Ethnicity (total)
Māori
13.8
-
14.6
.010
-
Pacific
15.5
-
16.0
.306
-
Asian
17.2
-
17.4
.860
-
NZ European / Other
15.1
-
15.2
.796
-
Neighbourhood deprivation
Least (1-3)
15.2
-
15.7
.157
-
Mid (4-7)
14.9
-
15.2
.218
-
Most (8-10)
15.0
-
15.1
.774
-
Unadjusted mean
Population group
2012
Total
15.0
Men
14.6
Women
15.4
Age group (years)
15-24 / 16-24
14.8
25-44
14.8
45-64
14.8
65+
15.9
Ethnicity (total)
Māori
13.8
Pacific
15.5
Asian
17.2
NZ European / Other
15.1
Neighbourhood deprivation
Least (1-3)
15.2
Mid (4-7)
14.9
Most (8-10)
15.0
Source:
Health and Lifestyles Survey
Notes:
Total response measure of ethnicity was used. People who reported belonging to more than one ethnic group are counted once in each group they reported.
Dashes indicate that the data is not available.
Indicator definition
Age in years of first trying a cigarette.
Question:
At what age did you FIRST try a cigarette, even just a few puffs?
Interpretation notes
Change in response rate
Lower response rates in 2018 than in 2016 and 2020 among young (15 to 24 years) male Māori, young male NZ European/Other, young female Asian, and older (55+ years) male Asian respondents mean that comparisons of 2018 data with 2016 and 2020 should be made with caution. We recommend focusing on longer-term trends where possible.
Impacts of Covid
Interviewing for the 2020 Health and Lifestyles Survey was delayed for five months due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Interviewing was then suspended twice in the Auckland region in response to the alert level being raised to level 3. At all other times, interviewing took place at alert levels 1 and 2 with additional COVID-19 precautions in place. It is unclear what impact the delays to the survey and the pandemic response have had on the data. No adjustments have been made to account for the impacts of these delays and the pandemic response.
