Overview
- WHO estimates put global adult smoking prevalence at about 19% today, down from roughly 23% a decade ago.
- The number of tobacco users fell from about 1.38 billion in 2000 to around 1.2 billion in 2024, led by sharp reductions in Southeast Asia where male smoking has roughly halved.
- More than 100 million people now use e‑cigarettes worldwide, including at least 15 million aged 13 to 15, which WHO experts say signals a new wave of nicotine addiction.
- Europe’s decline is less pronounced, with 17.4% of women smoking, a rate that stands out globally in WHO data.
- WHO calls for higher tobacco taxes, tighter advertising rules and expanded cessation support, as national markets such as Germany report a 25% year‑over‑year rise in e‑cigarette sales.