Column  Finance and the Social Security System  2020.08.17

【Aging, safety net and fiscal crisis in Japan】No.262: The smoking rate remains high, although it is decreasing among young adults

In this column series, Yukihiro Matsuyama, Research Director at CIGS introduces the latest information about aging, safety net and fiscal crisis in Japan with data of international comparison.

Healthcare

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare announced the smoking rate in 2019. The smoking rate of males aged 20 years or older declined from 48.4% in 2001 to 31.1% in 2016 and 28.8% in 2019 (Figure 1). The smoking rate of females also declined from 14.0% in 2001 to 9.5% in 2016 and 8.8% in 2019 (Figure 2). When examining the changes in smoking rates by age groups, it is notable that the most significant decline occurred in those aged between 20 to 29 years.

However, as explained in Column No. 28, the smoking rate in Japan remains higher than in other countries. Figure 3 is based on the smoking rates of people aged 15 or older in each country, as indicated by the “OECD Health Statistics 2020” database. The smoking rate in Japan is lower than in France, Italy, and Germany, but still higher than in many other countries.

Figure 1: Smoking rate among males

20200814_matsuyama_262_fig1.png

Source: Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare

Figure 2: Smoking rate among females

20200814_matsuyama_262_fig2.png

Source: Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare

Figure 3: International comparison of smoking rates

20200814_matsuyama_262_fig3.png

Source: OECD Health Statistics, 2020