According to the latest estimates, 150 countries have recorded a continued decline in tobacco rates, with about one in five users worldwide compared with one in three in 2000, shows the WHO tobacco trends report released this week.
Despite a drop in numbers, however, globally, there are still 1.25bn adult tobacco users.
The report shows that Brazil and the Netherlands are seeing declining numbers after they implemented MPOWER control measures, with Brazil making a relative reduction of 35% since 2010 and the Netherlands on the verge of reaching the 30% target.
Dr Ruediger Krech, director of WHO Department of Health Promotion, said good progress had been made in tobacco control in recent years, “but there is no time for complacency”.
“I’m astounded at the depths the tobacco industry will go to pursue profits at the expense of countless lives,” he said. “The minute a government thinks it has won the fight against tobacco, the industry seizes the opportunity to manipulate health policies and sell its deadly products.”
WHO urges countries to continue fighting against tobacco industry interference.
Currently, the WHO South-East Asian region has the highest percentage of population using tobacco at 26.5%, with the European region not far behind at 25.3%.
By 2030, according to the report, the WHO European region is projected to have the highest rates globally with a prevalence of just more than 23%.
Tobacco use rates among women in WHO’s European region are more than double the global average and are reducing much more slowly than in all other regions.
While the numbers have steadily decreased over the years, the world will make it to a 25% relative reduction in tobacco use by 2025, missing the voluntary global goal of 30% reduction from the 2010 baseline.
Only 56 countries globally will reach this goal, down four countries since the last report in 2021.
WHO urges countries to accelerate efforts for tobacco control, saying efforts to protect health policy from increased tobacco industry interference have deteriorated worldwide.
Country surveys consistently show that children aged 13-15 in most countries are using tobacco and nicotine products.
To protect the future generations and ensure tobacco use continues to decline, WHO will dedicate this year’s World No Tobacco Day to Protecting children from tobacco industry interference.
tobacco trends report
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Tobacco smoking control – Much research, little action
Health activist’s bid for complete tobacco ban dismissed
Vaping paper retracted after Big Tobacco funding discovery
Big Tobacco and the controversy over research and influencing policy
Social media is helping Big Tobacco hook a new generation of smokers