Smoking worldwide - Statistics & Facts

Consumption of tobacco products rose over the past century, turning an addictive habit into a major global industry that generates billions of dollars for various companies worldwide each year. However, as the detrimental effects of smoking on health became more well-known and widespread, public health strategies have risen to increase awareness of the risks of smoking and to decrease tobacco use. Smoking is now seen as an epidemic, as both smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke contribute to a massive burden on health, increasing the risk of various types of cancers, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and many other health issues. Furthermore, smoking is one of the leading risk factors for death, causing over seven million deaths worldwide in 2019.

Tobacco use around the world

Around the world, use of tobacco products and smoking vary in each country and among different demographic groups. The countries with the highest prevalence of daily smokers are Kiribati, Nauru, and Papua New Guinea, where 35 percent or more of the populations smoke. The countries with the lowest prevalence of daily smokers include Panama, Ghana, and Nigeria. Men smoke at higher rates than women in most countries around the world, but the prevalence of smoking has been declining for both men women and is expected to continue to decrease in the coming years. However, this drop in smoking rates is seen mostly in high income countries, as low- and middle-income countries still have high numbers of smokers.

Health issues

Health concerns related to smoking include various types of cancers, immune disorders, and a wide range of health issues such as eye disease, all of which can add up to a higher risk of disability and earlier death. Lung cancer, which is known to be directly caused by smoking, is the deadliest type of cancer, leading to almost 1.8 million deaths worldwide in 2020. Furthermore, both smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke can cause or worsen respiratory conditions such as asthma, COPD, and emphysema. Exposure to smoke also leads to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease among smokers and nonsmokers, which is concerning as ischemic heart disease and stroke are leading causes of death worldwide. However, once a person quits smoking, improvements in health begin immediately and continue to increase over time.

Prevention and treatment strategies

There are different strategies and policies used to control tobacco use, including widespread health campaigns, taxation, smoke-free laws, and bans on the consumption and advertising of tobacco products. One strategy proven to be effective is making tobacco less affordable, which is more often used in high income countries than low income countries. Additionally, raising awareness of the health risks associated with smoking is key in cessation programs, which is often done through placing alarming images and warning labels on tobacco products. Among high- and middle-income countries, covering costs for nicotine replacement therapy and cessation services are also key facets in tobacco dependence treatments.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by Statista Research Department, Jan 8, 2024

Key insights

Number of deaths from smoking worldwide
7.69 million
Average price of a packet of cigarettes worldwide
5.95 USD
Leading tobacco producing country worldwide
China
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Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Global cigarette consumption from 1880 to 2020 (in billion cigarettes)

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World consumption of cigarettes 1880-2020

Percentage of smokers in the population of select countries worldwide as of 2020, by sex*

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Smokers - proportion of smokers in select countries worldwide by sex 2020

Global consumption of cigarettes from 2007 to 2020, and projections from 2021 to 2025, by region with China (in trillions)

State of Health

Number of cigarettes consumed worldwide from 2007 to 2025, by region with China

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