Europe exceeded Southeast Asia and became the world leader in tobacco consumption, warns WHO. Electronic cigarettes may be creating a new generation nicotine dependent and undermining anti-tabaco progress.
Europe has surpassed Southeast Asia and became the world of the world with the highest tobacco consumption rate, the World Health Organization (WHO) reveals in a new report cited by Monday.
2024 data indicate that 24.1% of people 15 years or older in Europe use tobacco productsmore than any other region accompanied by WHO. Among European women, the global prevalence is also the highest, with 17.4%.
The study included, for the first time, data on the use of Electronic Cigarettes (or vapes) at global level. WHO considers particularly worrying numbers among young people and warns that the tobacco industry has aggressively promoted new nicotine products directed to this age group.
Tobacco control efforts have avoided millions of smokers, underlines the organization, but governments should act “faster and faster” to implement proven prevention policies.
Globally, in 2024, it is estimated that there 1.2 billion tobacco users 15 years or older. And despite the global trend of falling consumption, the reduction in Europe has been slower than in other regions.
The WHO European area covers 53 countries, including Russia, and European Union data corroborate these conclusions: one from June 2024 registered 24% smokers in the EU.
Comparatively, the prevalence in Europe decreased from almost 35% in 2000 to just over 24% in 2020, while in Southeast Asia the fall went from 54% to just over 23% in the same period.
Regarding electronic cigarettes, more than 86 million adults smoked from them in 2024, with Europe and the Americas to record the highest rates over 15 years, with 4.6% and 4.8%, respectively. Among adolescents aged 13 to 15, about 7.2% used electronic cigarettes, which corresponds to approximately 14.7 million children. On top of this, WHO warns that these values are probably underestimated, as only 75% of the world’s population is included in national inquiries on vaping.
The organization also warns that electronic cigarettes may be creating a New generation dependent on nicotine and undermining decades of progress in reducing smoking. These products are promoted as a way to reduce risks, but in practice addicts young people earlier.
