Health
This section provides information about the harms associated with tobacco use and smoking, and the impact of tobacco use on mental and physical health.
The primary source of health data utilised in this section is the Australian Burden of Disease Study 2024 (AIHW, 2024). This study is the best source of information relating to the disease burden of health risk factors including tobacco use. Other data sources are listed in the footnotes of individual FAQs.
What are the health risks of using tobacco?
Tobacco contains over 100 dangerous chemicals which cause serious harm to the body, including nicotine, carbon monoxide, tar, phenols, ammonia and formaldehyde. Using tobacco results in decreased life expectancy and quality of life, and increases the risk of many diseases and health conditions such as:
- Cancer
- Heart disease and stroke
- Respiratory disease
- Diabetes
- Bacterial and viral infections
- Gum disease and dental problems
- Hearing and vision loss
- Fertility problems and harms to the fetus
- Osteoporosis
- Early menopause.
People who use tobacco regularly may also become dependent on nicotine and feel like they need nicotine to function normally in their day-to-day lives. They may also develop tolerance to it and need to take increasing amounts in order to get the same effect.
Source: Adapted from the Australian Government website (2024).
How many Australians die each year from tobacco-related causes?
In Australia, tobacco use is the leading cause of death and accounts for the second-highest burden of disease (after overweight and obesity). In 2024, 12% of preventable deaths in Australia were caused by tobacco use. Recent data indicates that more than 24,000 deaths every year in Australia are attributable to tobacco.
Source: AIHW (2024) Australian Burden of Disease Study 2024 and Joshy et al (2025). Relationship of tobacco smoking to cause-specific mortality: contemporary estimates from Australia. BMC Med 23, 115.
Are men or women in Australia more likely to die from tobacco-related causes?
In 2024, tobacco use caused 12.3% of the preventable deaths among Australian men and 10.8% of the preventable deaths among women.
Source: AIHW (2024) Australian Burden of Disease Study 2024. Table S6.