Smoking and tobacco

Tobacco is a clearly damaging risk factor to health, significantly contributing to the burden of many non-communicable diseases, and even to some communicable diseases. While smoking prevalence has decreased over the past 30 years, the total number of smokers worldwide has continued to increase due to population growth. 

Photo by Reuters/Pablo La Rosa.

1.14 billion people around the world were smokers in 2019.
155 million global smokers in 2019 were between the ages of 15 and 24 years old.
7.69 million deaths were attributable to smoked tobacco use globally in 2019.
200 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2019 were attributed to smoked tobacco use globally.

Interactive data visuals

Interactive Data Visual

Tobacco Visualization

View modeled trends in smoking prevalence worldwide and by country for the years 1980 to 2015.

Datasets in our catalog

Visit the Global Health Data Exchange (GHDx) to download our estimates and data sources for smoking and tobacco.

Scientific Publication

Latest global data finds nearly 8 million deaths from smoking in 2019

Publications

Scientific Publication

The global, regional, and national burden of adult lip, oral, and pharyngeal cancer in 204 countries and territories

Scientific Publication

Health effects associated with smoking: a Burden of Proof study

Infographics

Infographic

Global Tobacco Trends, 1980 to 2012

Globally, smoking prevalence — the percentage of the population that smokes every day — has decreased, but the number of cigarette smokers worldwide has increased due to population growth.

Videos

Reports

Report

Assessment of Tobacco Use and Control: Mexico

As part of the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and the Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública of Mexico (INSP) have conducted a comprehensive assessment of tobacco control policies in Mexico’s 32 states, examining their implications for tobacco use and its associated health outcomes.

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