In a positive sign, a continued decline in tobacco use was witnessed across the globe in 2022 with about one in five adults consuming tobacco as compared to one in three in the year 2000, according to a report by the World Health Organization.

According to the latest estimates in the World Health Organization (WHO) tobacco trends report, there are 1.25 billion adult tobacco users in the world.

Trends in 2022 show a continued decline in tobacco use rates globally. With about one in five adults worldwide consuming tobacco compared to one in three in 2000, it said.

The report shows that 150 countries are successfully reducing tobacco use. Brazil and the Netherlands are seeing success after they implemented MPOWER tobacco control measures, with Brazil making a relative reduction of 35% since 2010 and the Netherlands on the verge of reaching the 30% target.

“Good progress has been made in tobacco control in recent years, but there is no time for complacency. I am astounded at the depths the tobacco industry will go to pursue profits at the expense of countless lives. We see that the minute a government thinks they have won the fight against tobacco, the (tobacco) industry seizes the opportunity to manipulate health policies and sell their deadly products,” Ruediger Krech, Director, WHO Department of Health Promotion, said.

The global health body also urged countries to continue putting in place tobacco control policies and fight against tobacco industry interference.

Currently, the WHO South-East Asian region has the highest percentage of population using tobacco at 26.5% with the European region not far behind at 25.3%.

While the numbers have steadily decreased over the years, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the world will make it to a 25% relative reduction in tobacco use by 2025.

The report noted that prevalence of tobacco use has changed little since 2010 in some countries, while six countries are still seeing tobacco use rising — Congo, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Oman, and Republic of Moldova.

“Country surveys consistently show that children aged 13–15 years in most countries are using tobacco and nicotine products. To protect the future generations and ensure that tobacco use continues to decline, WHO will dedicate this year’s World No Tobacco Day to protect children from tobacco industry interference,” it stated.