Highlights

• The proportion of children aged 8 to 15 who had ever smoked has decreased from 19% in 1997 to 4% in 2018.
• 9% of children aged 13 to 15 had ever tried smoking, compared to 1% of those aged 11 to 12 and 0.1% of those aged 8 to 10.
• 9% of children whose mother was a current cigarette smoker have tried smoking themselves.
• 7% of 8- to 15-year-olds had used an e-cigarette.
• The proportion of children aged 8 to 15 reporting ever having had a proper alcoholic drink – a whole drink, not just a sip - fell from 45% in 2003 to 14% in 2018.
• The proportion ever having had a proper alcoholic drink increased from younger to older children. Only small proportions of younger children had tried drinking: 3% aged 8 to 10 and 6% aged 11 to 12, compared with 31% aged 13 to 15 in 2018.
• 18% of children aged between 5 and 15 ate the recommended five or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
• 94% of boys and 96% of girls reported very good or good health.

Download the tables for this report here.

Estimates of the number of children in England in different categories are available for fruit and vegetable consumption. 

Download the population number estimates here.