Prevalence of tobacco use is reported by the World Health Organization (WHO), which focuses on cigarette smoking due to reported data limitations.[1]Smoking has therefore been studied more extensively than any other form of consumption.[2]
Smoking is globally five times more prevalent among men than women;[3][4] however, the gender gap is smaller in rich countries and in younger age groups.[5][6] In developed countries smoking rates for men have peaked and have begun to decline, and also started to stall or decline for women.[7] Smoking prevalence has changed little since the mid-1990s, before which time it declined in English-speaking countries due to the implementation of tobacco control. However, the number of smokers worldwide has increased from 721 million in 1980 to 967 million in 2012 and the number of cigarettes smoked increased from 4.96 trillion to 6.25 trillion due to population growth.[8]
In Western countries, smoking is more prevalent among populations with mental health problems, with alcohol and drug problems, among criminals, and among the homeless.[9] In 2002, about 20% of young teens (aged 13–15) smoked worldwide. 80,000 to 100,000 children begin smoking every day. Half of those who begin smoking in adolescent years are projected to go on to smoke for 15 to 20 years.[10]
^Guindon, G. Emmanuel; Boisclair, David (2003). Past, current and future trends in tobacco use(PDF). Washington DC: The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank. pp. 13–16. Archived from the original(PDF) on March 18, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
^The World Health Organization, and the Institute for Global Tobacco Control, Johns Hopkins School of Public Health (2001). "Women and the Tobacco Epidemic: Challenges for the 21st Century"(PDF). World Health Organization. pp. 5–6. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2009-02-07. Retrieved 2009-01-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
^Ng, Marie (Jan 8, 2014). "Smoking Prevalence and Cigarette Consumption in 187 Countries, 1980-2012". Journal of the American Medical Association. 311 (2): 183–192. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.284692. PMID24399557.
^West, Robert & Shiffman, Saul (2007). Fast Facts: Smoking Cessation. Health Press Ltd. pp. 20, 26. ISBN978-1-903734-98-8.
^"WHO/WPRO-Smoking Statistics". World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific. 2002-05-28. Archived from the original on November 8, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-01.