Objectives: In order to facilitate tobacco control task, people's prevalence and behaviors related to cigarette use need to be monitored regularly. A national smoking survey was thus conducted in Taiwan. Methods: Based on demographic data and previous smoking rates, the sample size was estimated. Using a set of structured questionnaires, a telephone company was entrusted to collect data in January 1999. Results: (1) Current smoking rates for male adults and female adults are 47.29% and 5.23%, respectively. (2) The average age for first trial of cigarette smoking is between 18.5 and 19.9 years, respectively. (3) Among the adults, 47.41% of daily smokers and 65.74% of occasional smokers reported that they had ever tried to quit smoking last year. (4) The variables including age, educational level, living place, whether the roommate is smoking, attitudes toward smoking ban in public places, and whether the workplace has smoking ban are significant predictors for male and female adults' smoking status. (5) Age, educational level, whether the roommate is smoking, and attitudes toward smoking ban in public places are significant predictors to quit smoking for male adults. Conclusions: Female adults' smoking rates tend to increase. The research projects focusing on investigating female smoking should be encouraged. In order to urge a smoker to quit, the innovative strategies should be created. The effective cessation methods should be introduced to those smokers who attempt to quit. In order to protect the employee s' health, the employers should conduct smoking ban in workplace.