This is the unadjusted average (mean) in the specified population.
The average (mean) age in years when people first started smoking daily was
18.3
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 starting smoking daily
Age and sex
Average age of starting smoking daily
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 starting smoking daily
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 starting smoking daily
(.95CI)
Average age of starting smoking daily
(.95CI)
Average age of starting smoking daily
(.95CI)
Total
18.3
( 17.9 - 18.6 )
18.1
( 17.7 - 18.6 )
18.4
( 17.9 - 18.9 )
Age group (years)
16-24
16.5
( 16 - 17 )
16.6
( 15.8 - 17.3 )
16.4
( 15.7 - 17.2 )
25-44
18.0
( 17.5 - 18.4 )
18.4
( 17.8 - 19 )
17.5
( 16.9 - 18 )
45-64
18.9
( 18.2 - 19.6 )
18.5
( 17.6 - 19.3 )
19.3
( 18.1 - 20.4 )
65+
18.2
( 17.7 - 18.7 )
17.8
( 17 - 18.6 )
18.7
( 18.2 - 19.3 )
Ethnicity (total)
Māori
17.7
( 17.2 - 18.1 )
18
( 17.2 - 18.9 )
17.3
( 16.9 - 17.8 )
Pacific
19.3
( 18.4 - 20.2 )
19
( 17.6 - 20.4 )
19.7
( 18.6 - 20.7 )
Asian
19.9
( 18.6 - 21.2 )
-
-
-
-
NZ European / Other
18.1
( 17.7 - 18.5 )
17.8
( 17.3 - 18.3 )
18.5
( 17.9 - 19.1 )
Neighbourhood deprivation
Least (1-3)
18.3
( 17.8 - 18.8 )
18.2
( 17.3 - 19 )
18.6
( 17.9 - 19.2 )
Mid (4-7)
18.5
( 17.9 - 19 )
18.3
( 17.7 - 18.9 )
18.7
( 17.6 - 19.7 )
Most (8-10)
17.9
( 17.3 - 18.4 )
17.9
( 16.9 - 18.9 )
17.8
( 17.4 - 18.3 )
Total
Men
Women
Average age of starting smoking daily
(.95CI)
Average age of starting smoking daily
(.95CI)
Average age of starting smoking daily
(.95CI)
Total
17.6
( 17.3 - 17.9 )
17.4
( 16.9 - 17.8 )
17.8
( 17.4 - 18.2 )
Age group (years)
15-24
16.1
( 15.3 - 16.9 )
-
-
16
( 15 - 17 )
25-44
17.5
( 17 - 18 )
17.4
( 16.6 - 18.2 )
17.6
( 17 - 18.2 )
45-64
17.6
( 17.1 - 18.1 )
17.7
( 16.9 - 18.4 )
17.5
( 16.9 - 18.1 )
65+
18.4
( 17.6 - 19.2 )
17.6
( 16.4 - 18.7 )
19.6
( 18.5 - 20.7 )
Ethnicity (total)
Māori
16.5
( 15.9 - 17 )
16.2
( 15.5 - 17 )
16.7
( 16 - 17.4 )
Pacific
18.6
( 17.8 - 19.4 )
18.7
( 17.5 - 20 )
18.5
( 17.5 - 19.6 )
Asian
19.9
( 18.2 - 21.6 )
-
-
-
-
NZ European / Other
17.5
( 17.1 - 17.8 )
17.2
( 16.6 - 17.7 )
17.8
( 17.4 - 18.3 )
Neighbourhood deprivation
Least (1-3)
17.7
( 17 - 18.5 )
17.2
( 16.3 - 18.2 )
18.4
( 17.4 - 19.4 )
Mid (4-7)
17.9
( 17.3 - 18.4 )
17.8
( 17 - 18.6 )
17.9
( 17.3 - 18.6 )
Most (8-10)
17.1
( 16.6 - 17.5 )
16.9
( 16.3 - 17.6 )
17.3
( 16.6 - 17.9 )
Total
Men
Women
Average age of starting smoking daily
(.95CI)
Average age of starting smoking daily
(.95CI)
Average age of starting smoking daily
(.95CI)
Total
17.8
( 17.5 - 18 )
17.5
( 17.2 - 17.9 )
18
( 17.6 - 18.4 )
Age group (years)
15-24
16.7
( 16 - 17.4 )
17.1
( 16.2 - 18 )
16.1
( 15.2 - 17.1 )
25-44
16.9
( 16.6 - 17.2 )
17.0
( 16.5 - 17.5 )
16.8
( 16.4 - 17.2 )
45-64
18.2
( 17.7 - 18.6 )
18.0
( 17.4 - 18.7 )
18.3
( 17.6 - 19 )
65+
18.8
( 18.1 - 19.4 )
17.7
( 17.1 - 18.3 )
20.2
( 19 - 21.5 )
Ethnicity (total)
Māori
16.9
( 16.4 - 17.3 )
16.7
( 16.1 - 17.4 )
17
( 16.4 - 17.6 )
Pacific
18.3
( 17.5 - 19 )
18.3
( 17.2 - 19.3 )
18.3
( 17.2 - 19.4 )
Asian
19.6
( 18.5 - 20.6 )
19.6
( 18.3 - 20.9 )
-
-
NZ European / Other
17.7
( 17.4 - 18 )
17.4
( 17 - 17.7 )
18
( 17.5 - 18.5 )
Neighbourhood deprivation
Least (1-3)
18.3
( 17.8 - 18.8 )
18.5
( 17.8 - 19.1 )
18
( 17.4 - 18.7 )
Mid (4-7)
17.6
( 17.2 - 18.1 )
17.0
( 16.5 - 17.5 )
18.2
( 17.4 - 18.9 )
Most (8-10)
17.5
( 17.1 - 17.9 )
17.4
( 16.8 - 17.9 )
17.7
( 17.1 - 18.2 )
Total
Men
Women
Average age of starting smoking daily
(.95CI)
Average age of starting smoking daily
(.95CI)
Average age of starting smoking daily
(.95CI)
Total
17.5
( 17.2 - 17.9 )
17.2
( 16.8 - 17.7 )
17.8
( 17.4 - 18.3 )
Age group (years)
15-24
16.1
( 15.2 - 17 )
16.2
( 14.8 - 17.7 )
15.9
( 15.1 - 16.7 )
25-44
16.8
( 16.3 - 17.2 )
16.9
( 16 - 17.8 )
16.6
( 16.1 - 17.1 )
45-64
17.9
( 17.3 - 18.5 )
17.6
( 16.9 - 18.3 )
18.1
( 17.3 - 19 )
65+
19.0
( 18.3 - 19.7 )
17.8
( 16.9 - 18.7 )
20.6
( 19.4 - 21.9 )
Ethnicity (total)
Māori
16.6
( 16.1 - 17.2 )
16.4
( 15.8 - 17.1 )
16.8
( 16 - 17.6 )
Pacific
17.6
( 17 - 18.3 )
17.4
( 16.5 - 18.4 )
17.9
( 17.1 - 18.7 )
Asian
19.2
( 16.3 - 22.1 )
-
-
-
-
NZ European / Other
17.6
( 17.3 - 18 )
17.3
( 16.8 - 17.7 )
18
( 17.4 - 18.5 )
Neighbourhood deprivation
Least (1-3)
17.9
( 17.4 - 18.4 )
17.5
( 16.8 - 18.1 )
18.4
( 17.5 - 19.2 )
Mid (4-7)
17.4
( 16.8 - 17.9 )
17.1
( 16.4 - 17.8 )
17.6
( 16.8 - 18.3 )
Most (8-10)
17.5
( 16.9 - 18.1 )
17.2
( 16.4 - 18 )
17.8
( 16.9 - 18.6 )
Total
Men
Women
Average age of starting smoking daily
(.95CI)
Average age of starting smoking daily
(.95CI)
Average age of starting smoking daily
(.95CI)
Total
17.9
( 17.3 - 18.4 )
17.9
( 17.2 - 18.6 )
17.8
( 17.1 - 18.5 )
Age group (years)
15-24
15.6
( 14.7 - 16.5 )
16.3
( 15 - 17.5 )
15
( 13.7 - 16.2 )
25-44
17.5
( 16.8 - 18.1 )
17.3
( 16.6 - 17.9 )
17.7
( 16.6 - 18.7 )
45-64
18.6
( 17.6 - 19.7 )
18.6
( 17.1 - 20.1 )
18.7
( 17.3 - 20.1 )
65+
18.7
( 17.5 - 19.8 )
18.6
( 16.9 - 20.3 )
18.7
( 17.3 - 20.1 )
Ethnicity (total)
Māori
16.5
( 15.9 - 17.1 )
16.4
( 15.6 - 17.2 )
16.5
( 15.7 - 17.3 )
Pacific
17.5
( 16.6 - 18.3 )
17.6
( 16.5 - 18.6 )
17.3
( 16.1 - 18.6 )
Asian
-
-
-
-
-
-
NZ European / Other
18
( 17.4 - 18.6 )
17.9
( 17 - 18.8 )
18.1
( 17.2 - 19 )
Neighbourhood deprivation
Least (1-3)
17.9
( 17 - 18.8 )
18.1
( 16.7 - 19.4 )
17.6
( 16.6 - 18.5 )
Mid (4-7)
18.4
( 17.3 - 19.4 )
18.2
( 16.7 - 19.8 )
18.5
( 17.2 - 19.9 )
Most (8-10)
17.3
( 16.5 - 18 )
17.3
( 16.3 - 18.3 )
17.2
( 16.1 - 18.3 )
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
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2010 and 2020
2012 and 2020
2014 and 2020
2016 and 2020
2018 and 2020
Total
17.9
17.5
-
17.8
17.6
18.3
.193
.002
-
.017
.004
Men
17.9
17.2
-
17.5
17.4
18.1
.583
.004
-
.036
.021
Women
17.8
17.8
-
18.0
17.8
18.4
.189
.119
-
.232
.094
Age group (years)
15-24 / 16-24
15.6
16.1
-
16.7
16.1
16.5
.087
.430
-
.664
.442
25-44
17.5
16.8
-
16.9
17.5
18.0
.172
.000
-
.000
.146
45-64
18.6
17.9
-
18.2
17.6
18.9
.728
.034
-
.100
.003
65+
18.7
19.0
-
18.8
18.4
18.2
.508
.073
-
.172
.688
Ethnicity (total)
Māori
16.5
16.6
-
16.9
16.5
17.7
.002
.004
-
.014
.001
Pacific
17.5
17.6
-
18.3
18.6
19.3
.002
.002
-
.080
.257
Asian
-
19.2
-
19.6
19.9
19.9
-
.663
-
.679
.000
NZ European / Other
18
17.6
-
17.7
17.5
18.1
.751
.074
-
.069
.017
Neighbourhood deprivation
Least (1-3)
17.9
17.9
-
18.3
17.7
18.3
.385
.220
-
.843
.186
Mid (4-7)
18.4
17.4
-
17.6
17.9
18.5
.874
.006
-
.021
.131
Most (8-10)
17.3
17.5
-
17.5
17.1
17.9
.195
.342
-
.242
.026
Unadjusted mean
Statistical significance of difference between years (
p
value)
Population group
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2010 and 2018
2012 and 2018
2014 and 2018
2016 and 2018
Total
17.9
17.5
-
17.8
17.6
.379
.851
-
.408
Men
17.9
17.2
-
17.5
17.4
.236
.663
-
.573
Women
17.8
17.8
-
18.0
17.8
.941
.971
-
.582
Age group (years)
15-24 / 16-24
15.6
16.1
-
16.7
16.1
.394
.953
-
.287
25-44
17.5
16.8
-
16.9
17.5
.926
.037
-
.053
45-64
18.6
17.9
-
18.2
17.6
.065
.452
-
.091
65+
18.7
19.0
-
18.8
18.4
.745
.278
-
.485
Ethnicity (total)
Māori
16.5
16.6
-
16.9
16.5
.980
.674
-
.272
Pacific
17.5
17.6
-
18.3
18.6
.049
.059
-
.554
Asian
-
19.2
-
19.6
19.9
-
.681
-
.732
NZ European / Other
18
17.6
-
17.7
17.5
.159
.539
-
.400
Neighbourhood deprivation
Least (1-3)
17.9
17.9
-
18.3
17.7
.806
.760
-
.236
Mid (4-7)
18.4
17.4
-
17.6
17.9
.397
.210
-
.495
Most (8-10)
17.3
17.5
-
17.5
17.1
.703
.280
-
.167
Unadjusted mean
Statistical significance of difference between years (
p
value)
Population group
2010
2012
2014
2016
2010 and 2016
2012 and 2016
2014 and 2016
Total
17.9
17.5
-
17.8
.739
.304
-
Men
17.9
17.2
-
17.5
.379
.272
-
Women
17.8
17.8
-
18.0
.644
.631
-
Age group (years)
15-24 / 16-24
15.6
16.1
-
16.7
.054
.284
-
25-44
17.5
16.8
-
16.9
.126
.579
-
45-64
18.6
17.9
-
18.2
.399
.455
-
65+
18.7
19.0
-
18.8
.849
.640
-
Ethnicity (total)
Māori
16.5
16.6
-
16.9
.319
.524
-
Pacific
17.5
17.6
-
18.3
.141
.183
-
Asian
-
19.2
-
19.6
-
.822
-
NZ European / Other
18
17.6
-
17.7
.362
.873
-
Neighbourhood deprivation
Least (1-3)
17.9
17.9
-
18.3
.458
.287
-
Mid (4-7)
18.4
17.4
-
17.6
.193
.493
-
Most (8-10)
17.3
17.5
-
17.5
.590
.999
-
Unadjusted mean
Statistical significance of difference between years (
p
value)
Population group
2010
2012
2010 and 2012
Total
17.9
17.5
.308
Men
17.9
17.2
.125
Women
17.8
17.8
.922
Age group (years)
15-24 / 16-24
15.6
16.1
.448
25-44
17.5
16.8
.080
45-64
18.6
17.9
.201
65+
18.7
19.0
.609
Ethnicity (total)
Māori
16.5
16.6
.711
Pacific
17.5
17.6
.750
Asian
-
19.2
-
NZ European / Other
18
17.6
.332
Neighbourhood deprivation
Least (1-3)
17.9
17.9
.994
Mid (4-7)
18.4
17.4
.096
Most (8-10)
17.3
17.5
.635
Unadjusted mean
Population group
2010
Total
17.9
Men
17.9
Women
17.8
Age group (years)
15-24 / 16-24
15.6
25-44
17.5
45-64
18.6
65+
18.7
Ethnicity (total)
Māori
16.5
Pacific
17.5
Asian
-
NZ European / Other
18
Neighbourhood deprivation
Least (1-3)
17.9
Mid (4-7)
18.4
Most (8-10)
17.3
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 starting smoking daily.
Question:
At what age did you first start smoking daily?
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.
