Murcia Region sees smoking fall to its lowest level as obesity rates remain high

The latest national health survey reveals a record fall in daily smoking, but the Region of Murcia has the third-highest adult obesity rate in Spain

Fewer people in the Region of Murcia are smoking every day than at any point since records began, although the community still has one of Spain's highest smoking rates. The latest figures also reveal a continuing problem with adult obesity, particularly among women.

According to the 2025 Spanish Health Survey, published by Spain's Ministry of Health and the National Statistics Institute (INE), 17.7% of people aged 15 and over in Murcia smoke daily. That's a drop from 25% in 2011-2012 and 19.68% in 2023.

However, the Region ranks second nationally for daily smoking, behind only Extremadura, where the figure stands at 18.9%. The Spanish average is lower, at 15.4%, the lowest national rate recorded.

The survey found that 21.26% of people in Murcia are former smokers, the lowest proportion of any Spanish region, while 59.17% say they have never smoked. Newer products remain less common, with 1.44% of residents aged over 15 using electronic cigarettes and 1.93% consuming heated tobacco.
Smoking is still more prevalent among men across Spain, with 18.4% smoking daily compared with 12.6% of women. The figures also reveal a clear link between smoking and social disadvantage, particularly among men.

Obesity remains a concern

The news is less encouraging when it comes to weight. Murcia has the third-highest adult obesity rate in Spain, with 18.9% of residents aged 18 and over affected. Only the Canary Islands, at 21.8%, and Castilla-La Mancha, at 20.8%, record higher figures. Women in Murcia have a higher obesity rate than men, at 21.9% compared with 16%.

There are some positive signs in other areas of health. Leisure-time inactivity continues to fall nationally, with 24.8% of people reporting that they do no physical activity in their free time. Meanwhile, 58% of Spaniards eat fresh fruit every day and 36% eat vegetables or salad daily, both improvements on the 2023 figures.

Alcohol consumption is moving in the opposite direction nationally, with 8.9% of people aged 15 and over drinking every day. However, Murcia records Spain's lowest rate of monthly heavy drinking, at 7.4%.

Asked to assess their own health, 67.1% of people in Murcia described it as good or very good, slightly below the national figure of 68.3%. Men were more positive than women, with 69.7% rating their health favourably, compared with 64.5% of women.

The Region also recorded the lowest proportion of people attending specialist medical consultations in the four weeks before being surveyed, at 13.4%.

See also: Clocks Go Back On 25 October, Giving Spain An Extra Hour Of Sleep

Image: Pexels/KUTLUER ERDAL