About Tobacco and Minority Populations

Tobacco use disproportionately affects minority populations who have a long and documented history of being targeted by the tobacco industry.

For example:

• Although African Americans usually smoke fewer cigarettes and start smoking cigarettes at an older age, they are more likely to die from smoking-related diseases.
• Prevalence of cigarette smoking is higher among Hispanic adults born in the United States than those who were foreign-born.
• American Indians/Alaska Natives have the highest prevalence of cigarette smoking compared to all other racial/ethnic groups in the United States.
• In the U.S., people living below the poverty level and people having lower levels of educational attainment have higher rates of cigarette smoking than the general population.

Learn More

• Tobacco Use in Racial and Ethnic Populations
• Tobacco use among US racial/ethnic minority groups
• Population Groups and Tobacco Use
• Tobacco is a Social Justice Issue