In 1998, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that an estimated 47.2 million adults (24.1%), comprising 24.8 million men (26.4%) and 22.4 million women (22.0%), were current smokers.

Overall, 19.7% (95% CI=±0.6) of adults were everyday smokers, and 4.2% (95% CI=±0.3) were someday smokers (everyday smokers constituted 82.4% [95% CI=±1.0] of all smokers).