Alberta ranks seventh with a smoking rate of 12 per cent, exceeding the national average of 10.9 per cent, according to a study by preszlerlaw.com.
New Brunswick leads Canada with a smoking rate of 15.8 per cent, as B.C. records the lowest rate of any province, with a smoking rate of just 8.7 per cent.
Despite smoking rates dropping in Canada, it’s estimated around 45,000 Canadian deaths are a direct result of smoking tobacco annually, and lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the country.
The study analyzed smoking rates across Canadian provinces, focusing on various age groups to determine where smoking is most common.
In Alberta, the highest prevalence is among adults aged 45 and over, at 15.4 per cent. Adults aged 25 and over have a smoking rate of 13.1 per cent, while young adults aged 20-24 have a rate of 6.4 per cent, and teens aged 15-19 have a rate of 5.2 per cent.
Across Canada, the highest prevalence is among adults aged 45 and over at 12.3 per cent. Adults aged 25-44 have a smoking rate of 10.9 per cent. Teens aged 15-19 have a national smoking rate of 4.2 per cent, while young adults aged 20-24 have a rate of 7.7 per cent.