Number Of Smokers Is Declining Worldwide. In Poor Countries, The Number Of Smoking Teenagers Is On The Rise

The number of smokers on a global scale has decreased for the first time in the history of Tobacco Atlas assessment. However, more and more teenagers turn to tobacco use in almost half of the countries surveyed. According to the authors of the report, there are 1.1 billion smokers and 200 million other people using alternative tobacco products.

Compared to 2007, 3% fewer people smoked in 2019. From 22.6% of smokers 15 years ago, their number decreased to 19.6% of the population. The overall decline in the number of cigarette smokers and users of other tobacco products on the planet is mainly due to their stricter control, including tax increases.

However, the most shocking report is that in 63 of the 135 countries surveyed did researchers see an increase in tobacco use among 13- to 15-year-olds. The study's authors point out that the company has not yet fully realized the impact of new products, such as e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco products.

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The number of smokers is growing, especially in Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Western Pacific. According to study co-author and public health professor Jeffrey Drop, this is primarily related to rapid population growth in the areas. "The tobacco industry is focusing on emerging economies, and it can be detrimental to several generations."

In 2019, more than half of the 8.7 million smoking-related deaths occurred in developing countries.