Sunderland has recorded its lowest ever smoking rate, marking what officials describe as “significant progress” in the city’s long term push for better health. The latest figures show the Sunderland smoking rate has dropped from 11.6 per cent in 2023 to 9.4 per cent in 2024. It is a milestone worth acknowledging, even if the city is still some distance from its 2030 goal of reducing smoking to 5 per cent.
The Sunderland smoking rate is falling, but the picture is not uniform. The council’s Smokefree Sunderland report says tobacco still has a “significant impact on the lives of many people”. Smoking remains more common in poorer neighbourhoods and among those dealing with mental health issues, homelessness or alcohol problems. These pressures shape habits and make quitting more difficult.
Young people in Sunderland appear to be moving in the right direction. A 2023 Sunderland Health Related Behaviour Survey estimated that only 4 per cent of secondary aged pupils smoke occasionally or regularly. At the same time, the report hints at wider concerns. In England, smoking is rising among young adults. Children whose parents smoke are three times more likely to start themselves. That generational link is stubborn and slow to break.
Not all trends are worrying. Across the north east of England, smoking rates have fallen sharply over the past two decades. The region has seen a 65 per cent drop since 2005. That steady decline coincides with a regional tobacco control programme called Fresh, funded by the NHS and 12 local councils. Its approach blends practical advice, policy advocacy, quitting support and action against illegal tobacco. The Sunderland smoking rate is part of that wider success story.
The local effort is set to gain more support. Sunderland Council has recently been allocated nearly £700,000 in government funding to bolster stop smoking services. It will arrive in two stages and is expected to help reach people who need targeted help. With the Sunderland smoking rate already at a historic low, officers hope the additional support will keep the momentum going.
Progress, though, is rarely simple. Falling rates among children sit alongside more complex patterns among adults. Social inequality still shapes who smokes and who finds it hardest to stop. The city’s target for 2030 may be ambitious, but each percentage point brings Sunderland closer to a healthier future.
