Background <p>Considering the importance of tobacco use surveillance in different age-groups, this research was carried-out to investigate the prevalence of tobacco smoking and related predicting factors among older adults in northern Iran.</p> Methods <p>This observational study as part of the Amirkola Health and Ageing prospective cohort Project (AHAP) was conducted among older individuals (aged ≥ 60 years). Age, gender, occupation, level of education, marital status, living condition, any previous history of comorbidities as well as the self-reported smoking status was collected through a direct interview with the older adult. Also, the participant's cognitive function, and depressive symptoms were assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination and Geriatric Depression Scale.</p> Results <p>A total of 1599 older people with mean age of 69.28 ± 7.33 years were included. Among women, only 8 persons (1.1%) had current or any previous history of smoking. Among 874 older men, 582 (66.6%) had no current or past smoking history, 181 (20.7%) had quit smoking, and 111 (12.7%) had current smoking. Logistic regression analysis revealed the significant effect of education (Adjusted OR: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.27–0.84; <i>P</i>&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.01), and depression (Adjusted OR: 1.63; 95% CI: 1.15–2.30; <i>P</i>&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.006) on tobacco smoking of older people.</p> Conclusions <p>Given higher prevalence of tobacco smoking among older men, in addition to the significant increasing effect of depression, and low level of education on smoking in old age, proper policies should be implemented in health-care package of older adults in northern Iran.</p> <p><i>Clinical trial number:&#xa0;</i>Not applicable.</p>