The World Health Organization has projected that the number of males using tobacco globally is on the decline for the first time, a news release published on WHO’s website shows.

According to WHO, this indicates a “powerful shift in the global tobacco epidemic” and shows that the government-led control efforts are working to protect health and save lives.
“Declines in tobacco use amongst males mark a turning point in the fight against tobacco,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.
Male tobacco use had risen from 1.050 billion in 2000 to 1.093 billion in 2018 but WHO’s new report shows that this number has stopped growing and is projected to decline by more than 1 million fewer male users in 2020 and 5 million less by 2025.
The report also projects that by 2020 there will be 10 million fewer tobacco users, male and female, compared to 2018, and another 27 million less by 2025, amounting to 1.299 billion.
“Reductions in global tobacco use demonstrate that when governments introduce and strengthen their comprehensive evidence-based actions, they can protect the well-being of their citizens and communities,” said Dr Ruediger Krech, Director of Health Promotion at WHO.