The tobacco epidemic continues…

Tobacco control is clearly helping to save millions of lives but the scale of the epidemic demands our continued attention and support. Though consumption is declining, smokers are still buying trillions of cigarettes each year and the use of newer tobacco products is increasing in some countries.

The latest on the Tobacco Atlas

We are back with this 7th edition with new data, analyses and developments. We present the key tobacco-related challenges that the world faces and the solutions that are working to help beat the epidemic.

State of global tobacco

Between 2007 to 2021, the percentage of adults who smoked declined.

State of global tobacco

Yet, because of an ever growing population, the number of smokers is still enormous.

Half will die from their habit.

Tobacco deaths

Today’s total number of smokers

1.13 billion people

The health care costs and lost productivity from premature death and sickness are staggering.

Nearly $2 trillion annually

Health effects

With a sinister focus on replenishing their customer base and offer of new products, tobacco profits have continued to rise.

$60+ billion USD in 2019

Tobacco Product Sales

Tobacco taxes work

Implementing taxes in these countries showed a significant decrease in consumption…

Sri Lanka

1.2 Change in score -44.3% Change in consumption

Kazakhstan

1.2 Change in score -29.5% Change in consumption

Chile

1.5 Change in score -25.9% Change in consumption

Colombia

1.8 Change in score -37.5% Change in consumption

Ukraine

1.8 Change in score -36.3% Change in consumption

Philippines

2.3 Change in score -43.2% Change in consumption

Peru

2.7 Change in score -73.5% Change in consumption

Georgia

2.75 Change in score -40.6 Change in consumption

Saudi Arabia

3 Change in score -37% Change in consumption

Qatar

3.3 Change in score -22.9% Change in consumption

Tobacco taxes are the most effective tobacco control intervention but the least implemented. A sufficiently large tax increase will raise tobacco product prices—making them less affordable—thereby discouraging initiation, encouraging quitting, and driving down consumption. Read about Taxes

The 2nd edition of the Tobacconomics Cigarette Tax Scorecard measures cigarette tax policy performance in 160 countries in four key areas – price, affordability change, tax structure and tax share. These scores help policymakers to evaluate their success and provide a roadmap for improvement. Visit Tobacconomics Cigarette Tax Scorecard