A recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals a significant yet concerning trend in global tobacco use. While the number of tobacco users has decreased from 1.38 billion in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024, one in five adults worldwide remains addicted to tobacco. This persistent addiction contributes to millions of preventable deaths each year.
According to WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, “Millions of people are stopping or not taking up tobacco use thanks to tobacco control efforts by countries around the world.” Despite this progress, the tobacco industry is countering with aggressive marketing of new nicotine products, particularly targeting young people. Dr. Ghebreyesus emphasizes the need for governments to accelerate the implementation of proven tobacco control policies.
Rising E-Cigarette Use Raises Concerns
The report marks the first time WHO has estimated global e-cigarette use, revealing that over 100 million people worldwide are now vaping. This includes various products that the tobacco industry continues to introduce, such as e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco products. These items pose significant health risks, particularly to youth and adolescents.
Etienne Krug, WHO Director of the Health Determinants, Promotion, and Prevention Department, stated, “E-cigarettes are fueling a new wave of nicotine addiction.” While marketed as harm reduction alternatives, he warns that they risk undermining decades of progress in reducing tobacco use.
Data from the report indicates a steady decline in tobacco use across both genders and all age groups from 2000 to 2024. Notably, women have led the way in cessation efforts, achieving the global reduction target for 2025 five years ahead of schedule. The prevalence of tobacco use among women dropped from 11% in 2010 to just 6.6% in 2024, with female tobacco users decreasing from 277 million in 2010 to 206 million in 2024.
In contrast, men are anticipated to reach the same reduction goal only by 2031. Currently, over four out of five tobacco users are men, with nearly 1 billion men still using tobacco. The prevalence among men has fallen from 41.4% in 2010 to 32.5% in 2024, but experts argue that the pace of change remains insufficient.
Call to Action for Governments
The WHO report calls on governments worldwide to intensify their tobacco control measures. This includes fully implementing and enforcing the MPOWER package and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Authorities are urged to close loopholes that allow the tobacco and nicotine industries to target children, as well as regulate new nicotine products like e-cigarettes more effectively.
Additionally, WHO recommends raising tobacco taxes, banning advertisements, and expanding cessation services to support millions more individuals in quitting. Jeremy Farrar, WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Care, remarked, “Nearly 20% of adults still use tobacco and nicotine products. We cannot let up now.” He emphasized that while global gains have been made, stronger and quicker action is essential to combat the ongoing tobacco epidemic.
The findings underscore a complex landscape in the fight against tobacco addiction. Despite notable progress, the continued prevalence of tobacco use and the rise of new nicotine products present ongoing challenges that require a unified and proactive response from governments and health organizations worldwide.
