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Background/aim: Smoking prevalence rates are declin-ing in most industrialised countries, partly because of growing cessation rates. However, little is known on recent time-trends in smoking cessation by socioeco-nomic position. This study aims to estimate educational inequalities in smoking cessation trends in Italy between 1982 and 2002. Methods: Data were derived from two national health interview surveys carried out in Italy in 1999–2000 (n = 34 789) and in 2004–2005 (n = 33 135). On the basis of respondents ’ age at starting and age at quitting smoking, we computed age-standardised smoking ces-sation rates at ages 20–44 years for subjects who were current smokers between 1982 and 2002