#WHO launches new report on global #Tobacco use trends

For the first time, the World Health Organization projects that the number of males using tobacco is on the decline, indicating a powerful shift in the global tobacco epidemic.

The findings, published today (19 December) in a new WHO report, demonstrate how government-led action can protect communities from tobacco, save lives and prevent people suffering tobacco-related harm.

“Declines in tobacco use amongst males mark a turning point in the fight against tobacco,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “For many years now we had witnessed a steady rise in the number of males using deadly tobacco products. But now, for the first time, we are seeing a decline in male use, driven by governments being tougher on the tobacco industry. WHO will continue working closely with countries to maintain this downward trend.”

During nearly the past two decades, overall global tobacco use has fallen, from 1.397 billion in 2000 to 1.337bn in 2018, or by approximately 60 million people, according to the WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2025 third edition. This has been largely driven by reductions in the number of females using these products (346m in 2000 down to 244m in 2018, or a fall over around 100m). Over the same period, male tobacco use had risen by around 40m, from 1.050bn in 2000 to 1.093bn in 2018 (or 82% of the world’s current 1.337bn tobacco users).

But positively, the new report shows that the number of male tobacco users has stopped growing and is projected to decline by more than 1m fewer male users come 2020 (or 1.091bn) compared to 2018 levels, and 5m less by 2025 (1.087bn). By 2020, WHO projects there will be 10m fewer tobacco users, male and female, compared to 2018, and another 27m fewer by 2025, amounting to 1.299bn. Some 60% of countries have been experiencing a decline in tobacco use since 2010. “Reductions in global tobacco use demonstrate that when governments introduce and strengthen their comprehensive evidence-based actions, they can protect the well-being of their citizens and communities,” said WHO Health Promotion Director Dr Ruediger Krech.

Despite such gains, progress in meeting the global target set by governments to cut tobacco use by 30% by 2025 remains off track. Based on current progress, a 23% reduction will be achieved by 2025. Only 32 countries are currently on track to reach the 30% reduction target. However, the projected decline in tobacco use among males, who represent the overwhelming majority of tobacco users, can be built on and used to accelerate efforts to reach to the global target, said Dr Vinayak Prasad, head of WHO’s tobacco control unit.

“Fewer people are using tobacco, which is a major step for global public health,” said Dr Prasad. “But the work is not yet done. Without stepped up national action, the projected fall in tobacco use still won’t meet global reduction targets. We must never let up in the fight against Big Tobacco.”

Other key findings of the report included:
• Children: Approximately 43m children (aged 13-15) used tobacco in 2018 (14m girls and 29m boys).
• Women: The number of women using tobacco in 2018 was 244m. By 2025, there should be 32m fewer women tobacco users. Most gains are being made in low- and middle-income countries. Europe is the region making the slowest progress in reducing tobacco use among females.
• Asian trends: WHO’s South East Asian Region has the highest rates of tobacco use, of more than 45% of males and females aged 15 years and over, but the trend is projected to decline rapidly to similar levels seen in the European and Western Pacific regions of around 25% by 2025. The Western Pacific Region, including China, is projected to overtake South East Asia as the region with the highest average rate among men.
• Trends in the Americas: Fifteen countries in the Americas are on track to reach the 30% tobacco use reduction target by 2030, making it the best performing of WHO’s six regions.
• Policy action: more and more countries are implementing effective tobacco control measures, which are having the desired effect of reducing tobacco use. Tobacco taxes not only help reduce tobacco consumption and health-care costs, but also represent a revenue stream for financing for development in many countries.
Every year, more than 8m people die from tobacco use, approximately half of its users. More than 7m of those deaths are from direct tobacco use while around 1.2m are due to non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke. Most tobacco related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, areas that are targets of intensive tobacco industry interference and marketing.

The WHO report covers use of cigarettes, pipes, cigars, waterpipes, smokeless tobacco products (like bidis, cheroots and kretek) and heated tobacco products. Electronic cigarettes are not covered in the report.
The report supports the monitoring of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 3.a, which calls for strengthening implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).

The WHO “MPOWER” measures are in line with the WHO FCTC and have been shown to save lives and reduce costs from averted healthcare expenditure, including:
• Monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies.
• Protecting people from tobacco smoke.
• Offering help to quit tobacco use.
• Warning people about the dangers of tobacco.
• Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
• Raising taxes on tobacco.

More information
WHO’s work on tobacco
WHO tobacco fact sheet 

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