To describe the smoking pattern and secondhand smoke exposure of registered residents aged 15 years and above in Shanghai, and to provide a scientific basis for developing related intervention strategies.

The data of 2013 Shanghai Non-communicable Disease and Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance Survey was used for analyzing the smoking behavior and the prevalence of secondhand smoke exposure in 23 512 participants aged 15 years and above involved, including smoking rate, current smoking rate, daily smoking rate, heavy smoking rate, and rate of secondhand smoke exposure.

The overall smoking rate of the registered residents aged 15 years and above in Shanghai was 24.34% (45.92% for male, and 1.32% for female), the current smoking rate was 20.42% (38.60% for male, and 1.03% for female), the daily smoking rate was 18.14% (34.31% for male, and 0.90% for female), and the heavy smoking rate was 9.24% (17.62% for male, and 0.30% for female). The rate of secondhand smoke exposure for non-smokers was 40.21% (40.50% for male, and 40.01% for female). The smoking rate of male was higher than that of female (χ²=6343.71, P < 0.001). There were also differences in smoking rate among urban, urban-suburban fringe, and suburban areas (χ²=111.08, P < 0.001). The highest smoking rate in public places was restaurants.

Smoking and secondhand smoke exposure rates are high in Shanghai. Tobacco control is a great challenge in Shanghai. Effective intervention measures are required to curb tobacco use.