Published: June 3, 2026 • 3:29 PM IST · Updated: June 3, 2026 • 5:40 PM ISTBy TheBriefWire Editorial Team
Key points
Australians are consuming more nicotine than they were eight years ago but are spending less, new data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows, as 80% of the cigarettes smoked by the nation last year were cheaper illegal products.
The analysis released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Wednesday showed the amount of nicotine consumed around the country soared by 40% between 2017 and 2025, despite population growth rising by just 14%.
The ABS said the growth was driven by illegal tobacco and increases in e-cigarettes and other products.
In 2017, only 12% of the total tobacco consumed was from illicit sources.