The world is smoking less, but the tobacco epidemic is far from over. A new WHO global report shows the number of tobacco users has dropped from 1.38 billion in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024. Since 2010, the number of people using tobacco has dropped by 120 million - a 27 percent drop in relative terms. Yet, tobacco still hooks one in five adults worldwide, fueling millions of preventable deaths every year.
"Millions of people are stopping, or not taking up, tobacco use thanks to tobacco control efforts by countries around the world," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. "In response to this strong progress, the tobacco industry is fighting back with new nicotine products, aggressively targeting young people. Governments must act faster and stronger in implementing proven tobacco control policies."
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