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Tobacco Charts

State Cigarette Tax and State Cigarette Tax Revenue

Suggested Chart
X axis: State cigarette tax    Y axis: One of the tax revenue variables
Size: Percentage of US population    Color: Price of a pack of cigarettes

As illustrated in this scatter plot, the relationship between state cigarette tax and state cigarette tax collections is linear. States with a higher tax generate more revenue from this tax. In 2000, Mississippi had a state cigarette tax and revenue from the state cigarette tax that was similar to several other states. However, by 2008, Mississippi had been left behind. Most state now have a substantially higher state cigarette tax and are generating substantially higher revenue from this tax.

Data Source:

• Orzechowski and Walker (2008). The Tax Burden on Tobacco Historical Compilation Volume 43, 2008. Arlington, Virginia.
• U.S. Census Bureau (2008). Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, Regions, States, and Puerto Rico.

Tobacco Interactive Charts

• Percent of Population Protected from Tobacco Smoke
• State Cigarette Tax and State Cigarette Tax Revenue
• Cigarette Smoking and Tobacco Contol Policies
• Cigarette Smoking and Smoke Free Laws

Tobacco control policies are a crucial component of statewide programs to reduce the prevalence of smoking. We created these charts to provide policy makers with a vivid illustration of the profound changes states have experienced after raising their state cigarette tax or passing statewide smoke free laws. Substantial increases in revenue and reductions in cigarette smoking have occurred in every state that raised their cigarette tax.

States have also experienced reductions in cigarette smoking after passing statewide smoke free laws. Moreover, it's obvious from these charts that although many of the states in the U.S. have enacted tobacco control policies and experienced desirable outcomes - other states have missed the opportunity to improve health while increasing tax revenue.