Nearly one in five Azorean residents aged 15 and older smokes, with daily tobacco use significantly exceeding the national average, according to Portugal’s National Statistics Institute.
The Azores have one of the highest smoking rates in Portugal, with 19.5% of residents aged 15 and older reporting tobacco use, according to the 2025 National Health Survey released by Portugal’s National Statistics Institute (INE). The archipelago ranked second among the regions cited in the report, behind the Algarve, where 20.6% of the population smoked.
The findings also show that 18.1% of Azorean residents aged 15 and older smoke daily, compared with a national average of 12.7%. The Algarve recorded a slightly higher daily smoking rate of 18.2%, while the Alentejo registered 16.4%.
The survey, conducted during the fourth quarter of 2025, examined smoking, physical activity, nutrition, alcohol consumption, weight, and health literacy among Portugal’s resident population.
Nationwide, 14.6% of people aged 15 and older reported smoking, with tobacco consumption considerably more common among men than women. Approximately 19.6% of men smoked, compared with 9.8% of women. The highest smoking rates were recorded among adults between 25 and 64 years of age, particularly those aged 45 to 54, among whom 20.5% smoked and 18.7% did so daily.
The survey also found that 22.7% of Portugal’s population aged 15 and older were former smokers.
The Azores’ figures are particularly significant because the region’s daily smoking rate exceeds the national average by 5.4 percentage points. The findings highlight the importance of tobacco prevention, smoking cessation programs, and accessible public health education in the archipelago.
Beyond tobacco consumption, the national survey identified several other health-related challenges. More than half of Portugal’s population aged 15 and older, 53.4%, reported not engaging in physical exercise, while 28.5% said they did not walk for transportation on any day during a typical week.
Weight-related indicators also raised concerns. Among residents aged 18 and older, 57.1% were classified as overweight or obese, based on a body mass index of 25 or higher.
Regarding nutrition, 68.3% of respondents reported eating fruit daily, while 57.5% consumed milk or dairy products every day. Approximately 32.1% ate processed fish, seafood, or meat between one and three times per week, and 8% consumed sugary soft drinks daily.
Alcohol consumption was another significant area examined by the survey. Nationally, 55.9% of residents aged 15 and older reported drinking alcohol regularly, including 15.3% who consumed it daily. Among respondents who had consumed alcohol during the previous 12 months, 42.5% reported drinking six or more alcoholic beverages on at least one occasion, a pattern classified by the survey as risky consumption.
The report also identified substantial differences in health literacy according to age and educational attainment. Among young people aged 15 to 24, 56.6% considered their health literacy adequate, compared with only 16.6% of residents aged 85 and older. Educational differences were similarly pronounced, with 35.1% of respondents who had completed basic education reporting adequate health literacy, compared with 59.8% of those with higher education.
While these broader indicators describe Portugal as a whole and should not be interpreted as specific measurements for the Azores, they provide important context for understanding the country’s public health challenges.
For the Azores, the most striking finding remains the prevalence of tobacco consumption. With nearly one in five residents aged 15 and older smoking and more than 18% smoking daily, the region faces a significant challenge in reducing tobacco use and its associated health risks.
The results provide a statistical basis for evaluating prevention strategies, strengthening smoking cessation services, and promoting healthier lifestyles. They also underscore the importance of ensuring that public health information and support reach residents across all nine islands, including communities where access to specialized services may be more limited.
The National Health Survey offers a reminder that improvements in population health depend not only on medical treatment but also on prevention, education, and the everyday conditions that influence individual choices. For the Azores, reducing tobacco consumption remains an important public health priority.
Based on figures from Portugal’s National Health Survey 2025, conducted by the National Statistics Institute (INE) during the fourth quarter of 2025, as reported by José Henrique Andrade in Diário dos Açores, paulo Viveiros, director. The Pohto is public domain from Pixabay.