Smoking is a leading cause of preventable death, causing more than 480,000 deaths per year in the U.S. and leading to higher long-term health costs. Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease both among smokers and people exposed to secondhand smoke.

In 2019, 20% of adults reported being smokers, down 7 percentage points from 2011, but 4 points above the national rate. That makes Arkansas 44th in the nation on this indicator, including the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Smoking rates were similar among men and women (22% and 19%, respectively), and among white and Black adults (at 21% and 22%, respectively). Rates were higher among multiracial, non-Hispanic adults (32%) and among American Indian or Alaskan Native, non-Hispanics, (30%) a small group in Arkansas. In general, smoking rates have decreased modestly since 2011.

Smoking rates varied greatly by county, with the highest rates in 2019 in Nevada and Poinsett counties (both at 27%). The lowest rates were in Sevier, Lee, and Little River counties, all at 13%.

National data comes from a survey designed to collect scientific data on health risks and behaviors.