One In Five Adults Still Addicted To Tobacco – WHO
Despite a steady global decline in tobacco use, one in five adults worldwide remains hooked on nicotine, according to a new World Health Organisation (WHO) report released on Monday.
The report revealed that the number of tobacco users has dropped from 1.38 billion in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024 — a 27% reduction since 2010.
The WHO warns that the tobacco industry continues to fuel addiction with new products such as e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and nicotine pouches, especially targeting young people.
“Millions of people are stopping, or not taking up, tobacco use thanks to tobacco control efforts,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The tobacco industry, however, is fighting back with new nicotine products, aggressively targeting youth. Governments must act faster and stronger.”
For the first time, the WHO estimated global e-cigarette use, noting that over 100 million people are now vaping, including 15 million adolescents aged 13 to 15.
In countries with available data, children are nine times more likely than adults to vape.
Dr Etienne Krug, WHO Director of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention, warned that e-cigarettes are “fuelling a new wave of nicotine addiction,” undermining decades of progress in tobacco control.
The report also showed that women are quitting tobacco faster than men. The prevalence among women fell from 11% in 2010 to 6.6% in 2024, while men still account for more than four out of five tobacco users globally
Regionally, South-East Asia recorded the sharpest decline among men, from 70% in 2000 to 37% in 2024 — while Africa remains the lowest-prevalence region at 9.5%.
Europe, however, now has the highest overall prevalence at 24.1%, with European women leading globally at 17.4%.
WHO urged governments to strengthen tobacco control measures by enforcing the MPOWER package, increasing taxes, banning advertising, and regulating new nicotine products to prevent youth addiction.
“Nearly 20% of adults still use tobacco and nicotine products,” said Jeremy Farrar, WHO Assistant Director-General. “The world has made gains, but stronger, faster action is the only way to beat the tobacco epidemic.”
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