The World Health Organization (WHO) reports a global decline in the number of smokers, indicating the failure of major tobacco companies’ attempts to encourage smoking.
WHO states that only one in five people worldwide currently smoke cigarettes. In Pakistan, the smoking rate for individuals aged 15 and above is 16.9%.
The report highlights that 150 countries are successfully reducing tobacco use through measures such as regulation and higher taxes. Despite this progress, the highest number of smokers is found in Southeast Asia and Europe. Tobacco use is still increasing in certain countries, including Egypt, Jordan, and Indonesia.
The World Health Organization’s data reveals that in the year 2000, approximately 1.36 billion people aged 15 and older were smokers globally. By 2022, this number has decreased to 1.25 billion.
The forecast suggests a further decrease to 1.2 billion smokers by 2030, with an estimated 10 percent of 13- to 15-year-olds worldwide using one or more forms of tobacco.
Tobacco use remains a significant global health concern, causing over 8 million deaths annually, including approximately 1.3 million non-smokers. Smoking is associated with various health issues such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease, and diabetes, as outlined by the US Centers for Disease Control.
