'General population' includes those who are daily and occasional smokers over the age of 18 years old.

Smoking prevalence tends to increase alongside the severity of the psychiatric disorder. One Australian study showed about 70% of people living with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder smoke.

About 78% of deaths in people living with a mental illness are caused by physical health conditions including heart disease and cancer. Tobacco use is a major risk factor for both diseases.

Aboriginal people are expected to live about 10 years less than non-Aboriginal people. Tobacco use is responsible for up to about a quarter of that life expectancy gap.

Aboriginal people are almost twice as likely to develop lung cancer than non-Aboriginal people.

Smoking rates among people experiencing homelessness range from 67-86%.

Twice as many people who are experiencing homelessness die from smoking-related diseases compared to those with stable housing.

The rate of asthma is almost three times higher among people experiencing homelessness compared to the general population (32.9% and 11% respectively). Tobacco use is a major cause of asthma, and can make symptoms much worse.

People experiencing drug dependence are far more likely to die prematurely from a smoking-related disease than from their drug use.

16% of people in prison report smoking more upon leaving prison compared to when they entered.

Compared to the most disadvantaged men in the general community, people in prison who smoke are 4 times more likely to have multiple risk factors for heart disease (including being a smoker).

People who live in disadvantaged postcodes are almost twice as likely to smoke compared to those in the least disadvantaged postcodes.

People living in remote and very remote areas are twice as likely to smoke compared to people living in major cities.

Regional variation:
Perth - 9.8%; Kimberley - 18%; Pilbara - 16.8%; Midwest - 15.8%; Goldfields - 14.9%; Wheatbelt - 13.8%; Great Southern - 14%; South West - 13.2%.