Number of males using tobacco globally on the decline, showing that government-led control efforts work to save lives, protect health, beat tobacco
According to a new projection (December 2019) done by World Health Organization (WHO), the number of males using tobacco has declined in a long time in the history.
This decline in use of tobacco is seen a powerful shift in global tobacco epidemic.
According to Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, ““Declines in tobacco use amongst males mark a turning point in the fight against tobacco”. He further added, “For many years now we had witnessed a steady rise in the number of males using deadly tobacco products. But now, for the first time, we are seeing a decline in male use, driven by governments being tougher on the tobacco industry. WHO will continue working closely with countries to maintain this downward trend.”
WHO report also shows that the global tobacco use had decreased from 1.397 billion to 1.337 billion in 2018 i.e. by nearly 60 million people.
This has been largely driven by reductions in the number of females using these products (346 million in 2000 down to 244 million in 2018, or a fall over around 100 million).
Over the same period, male tobacco use had risen by around 40 million, from 1.050 billion in 2000 to 1.093 billion in 2018 (or 82% of the world’s current 1.337 billion tobacco users).
But positively, the new report shows that the number of male tobacco users has stopped growing and is projected to decline by more than 1 million fewer male users come 2020 (or 1.091 billion) compared to 2018 levels, and 5 million less by 2025 (1.087 billion).
Other Key Findings of the Report Included:
- Children: Approximately 43 million children (aged 13-15) used tobacco in 2018 (14 million girls and 29 million boys).
- Women: The number of women using tobacco in 2018 was 244 million. By 2025, there should be 32 million fewer women tobacco users. Most gains are being made in low- and middle-income countries. Europe is the region making the slowest progress in reducing tobacco use among females.
- Asian trends: WHO’s South East Asian Region has the highest rates of tobacco use, of more than 45% of males and females aged 15 years and over, but the trend is projected to decline rapidly to similar levels seen in the European and Western Pacific regions of around 25% by 2025. The Western Pacific Region, including China, is projected to overtake South East Asia as the region with the highest average rate among men.
- Trends in the Americas: Fifteen countries in the Americas are on track to reach the 30% tobacco use reduction target by 2030, making it the best performing of WHO’s six regions.
- Policy action: more and more countries are implementing effective tobacco control measures, which are having the desired effect of reducing tobacco use. Tobacco taxes not only help reduce tobacco consumption and health-care costs, but also represent a revenue stream for financing for development in many countries.
Source of News: https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/19-12-2019-who-launches-new-report-on-global-tobacco-use-trends
