Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded an alarm on the persistent tobacco epidemic, revealing that while global smoking rates have declined significantly one in every five adults worldwide remains addicted to tobacco. The latest WHO Global Report on Tobacco Trends (2000–2024) shows tobacco users have fallen from 1.38 billion in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024 a relative decline of 27% since 2010. Yet, tobacco continues to kill millions annually through preventable diseases.
Tobacco Use Down, but E-Cigarettes Rising
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commended nations for progress in tobacco control but warned of new challenges. “Millions have stopped or never started tobacco use thanks to global policies, but the industry is now fighting back with new nicotine products targeting youth,” he said. “Governments must act faster and stronger.”
For the first time, WHO included global estimates of e-cigarette use, and the findings are concerning: more than 100 million people worldwide are vaping including 86 million adults and 15 million adolescents aged 13–15. Children are nine times more likely than adults to vape, underscoring what WHO officials call a “new wave of nicotine addiction.”
“E-cigarettes are marketed as harm reduction but are in fact creating a new generation addicted to nicotine” said Dr. Etienne Krug, WHO Director of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention. “They risk reversing decades of hard-won progress.”
Women Leading Tobacco Quitting Trend
The report highlights a major gender gap in quitting patterns. Women have already met the global target of a 30% reduction in tobacco use — achieving it five years early in 2020. Their prevalence dropped from 11% in 2010 to 6.6% in 2024 while male tobacco use remains widespread with nearly 1 billion men still using tobacco. At the current rate, men are not expected to reach the same goal until 2031.
Regional Trends Show Uneven Progress
- South-East Asia: Male tobacco use dropped dramatically from 70% in 2000 to 37% in 2024, accounting for over half the global decline.
- Africa: Prevalence lowest globally at 9.5%, though absolute numbers are rising due to population growth.
- Americas: Achieved a 36% reduction with prevalence now 14%.
- Europe: Highest overall prevalence at 24.1%, and women in Europe have the world’s highest usage at 17.4%.
- Eastern Mediterranean: Prevalence 18%, still rising in some nations.
- Western Pacific: Overall prevalence 22.9%, with male use the highest globally at 43.3%.
Urgent Call for Action
WHO is urging countries to enforce stronger tobacco control measures, including implementing the MPOWER policy package and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The agency emphasized closing loopholes that allow tobacco and nicotine companies to target youth, while raising taxes, banning advertising, and expanding cessation services.
“Nearly 20% of adults still use tobacco and nicotine products,” said Dr. Jeremy Farrar, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. “The world has made progress, but we must accelerate action to finally end the tobacco epidemic.”
The Global Picture
The report draws from 2034 national surveys covering 97% of the global population. Despite notable progress, the world remains 50 million users short of the 2025 target under the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 3.a) and WHO’s Noncommunicable Disease Action Plan.
Also Read: WHO to Develop New Evidence-Based Guidelines for HTLV-1 Testing and Prevention
