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Global Tobacco Use Declines, But New Threats Emerge: A Comprehensive Update (2024)
(Updated November 2, 2024)
For decades, the global fight against tobacco has yielded important progress. However, a new landscape of nicotine delivery systems and persistent regional disparities threaten to undermine these gains. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the latest trends in tobacco use worldwide, based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recent report, “WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000-2024 and projections 2025-2030“, and offers insights into the challenges and opportunities ahead. We’ll delve into the successes, the emerging dangers, and the critical actions needed to accelerate progress towards a tobacco-free future.
Understanding the Scope of the problem: A Ancient Outlook
Tobacco use remains one of the leading preventable causes of death globally, responsible for over 8 million deaths annually.The devastating health consequences – including cancer, cardiovascular disease, respiratory illnesses, and numerous other conditions – place a significant burden on healthcare systems and economies worldwide. As the early 2000s, the global community has rallied around initiatives like the WHO framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to reduce tobacco consumption. These efforts have demonstrably impacted rates, but the battle is far from over.
Global trends: A 27% Reduction, But Falling Short of the Goal
The WHO report reveals a 27% reduction in global tobacco use between 2000 and 2024, representing a significant achievement. This progress is based on analysis of 2034 national surveys, covering 97% of the global population, and directly contributes to tracking progress against Lasting Advancement Goal (SDG) Target 3.a and the WHO NCD Global Action Plan. The initial goal was a 30% reduction by 2025, and while significant progress has been made, the world is currently falling short by approximately 50 million users.
The Gender Divide: Women Leading the Charge to Quit
A particularly encouraging trend is the disproportionate success women have had in quitting tobacco. Globally, women reached the 30% reduction target five years ahead of schedule, achieving it in 2020.Between 2010 and 2024, tobacco use among women plummeted from 11% to 6.6%, resulting in a decrease of 71 million female tobacco users (from 277 million to 206 million). This success is attributed to targeted public health campaigns, increased awareness of the health risks, and changing social norms.
However, men are lagging behind. While male tobacco prevalence has decreased from 41.4% in 2010 to 32.5% in 2024, the pace is too slow, and they are not projected to reach the 30% reduction target until 2031. Currently, over four out of five tobacco users worldwide are men, with nearly 1 billion men still consuming tobacco. Addressing the specific barriers to cessation among men is a critical priority.
The Rise of Nicotine Alternatives: A new Wave of Addiction
While traditional cigarette consumption is declining in many regions,the tobacco industry is aggressively diversifying its product portfolio. This includes e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, heated tobacco products, and other novel nicotine delivery systems.These products are often marketed as “harm reduction” alternatives, but mounting evidence suggests they are, in fact, fuelling a new wave of nicotine addiction, particularly among young people.
“E-cigarettes are marketed as harm reduction but, in reality, are hooking kids on nicotine earlier and risk undermining decades of progress,” warns Etienne Krug, WHO Director of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention Department.
Alarmingly, data indicates that children are nine times more likely than adults to vape in countries where data is available. Furthermore, studies show that e-cigarette use can act as a gateway to traditional cigarette smoking, reversing the progress made in
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