We examined trends in cigarette smoking behaviour in France from 1974 to 1991 separately for men and women as well as according to social class indicators. Overall, cigarette smoking prevalence has declined among men but has increased among women over the 18-year period which was taken into consideration. Analysis by social class groupings shows, among men, that the decrease is greater among higher level executives, professionals and academics and occurred as early as 1983. Among women, there is only a slight and recent downward trend limited to those of higher socio-economic status. These findings are similar to those of other southern European countries, such as Italy or Spain, but are not as yet comparable to what has been observed over the last twenty years in northern Europe, the United Kingdom or the United States of America.