Arnie Breazy

What state has the most smokers? Looking only at the percentage of smokers by state, the worst is West Virginia, where 21.7% of the population smokes cigarettes. Kentucky ranks #2, with 21.1% of locals smoking cigarettes.

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Cigarettes are rife with negative health risks, and it’s no wonder that the top two states that have the highest percentage of cigarette-smokers also have the highest percentage of deaths from smoking-related cancers. Kentucky, which has the highest percentage of deaths from smoking-related cancers, losing about 10,165 people, outranks West Virginia, which lost 1,581, a slim margin in terms of percentage of state population.

Top 10 States With the Highest Percentage of Cigarette-Smokers

These are the top 10 states with the most smokers, according to CDC data on smoking rates by state:

1. West Virginia: 21.7%

2. Kentucky: 21.1%

3. Wyoming: 20.2%

4. Arkansas: 20%

5. Ohio: 19%

6. Indiana: 18.9%

7. South Dakota: 18.8%

8. Louisiana: 18.6%

9. Mississippi: 18.5%

10. Oklahoma: 18.5%

States by Percentage of the Population Who Die from Smoking-Related Cancers

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Top 10 States With the Most Smoking-Related Cancer Deaths

These are the percentages of the population who die per year from smoking-related cancers, according to data from a JAMA Internal Medicine study cross-checked against U.S. Census population data:

1. Kentucky: 0.23% (10,165 deaths)

2. West Virginia: 0.085% (1,581 deaths)

3. Arkansas: 0.07% (2,175 deaths)

4. Tennessee: 0.07% (4,613 deaths)

5. Maine: 0.07% (927 deaths)

6. Missouri: 0.068% (4,047 deaths)

7. Louisiana: 0.067% (3,044 deaths)

8. Mississippi: 0.067% (1,992 deaths)

9. Florida: 0.067% (12,596 deaths)

10. Alabama: 0.066% (3,183 deaths)

Looking carefully at data on smoking by state, we can see trends and a common theme: High percentages of harmful forms of smoking like cigarette use combined with low access to health care may lead to a deadly combination for smokers.

If you’ve struggled to quit and considering vaping as an alternative, here’s a guide to what you can come to expect from the transition.

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