WHO Announces a Breakthrough: Male Tobacco Use Begins to Drop
For the first time ever, the WHO tipped its hat to the good news that men are cutting back on cigarettes. While women and girls had already been steadily dropping their smoking habits for years, male smokers—who make up the bulk of the crowd—had been on the up‑drift. The latest data shows that tide is changing.
Why It Matters
Each year roughly eight million people die because of tobacco. That’s a staggering figure—comparable to the entire population of a mid‑size country—and it speaks volumes about how serious the fight needs to be.
WHO’s Take
- “Declines in tobacco use among males mark a turning point,” WHO’s chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
- He credited tougher government action against the tobacco industry for steering the trend.
- WHO also emphasized that more work is still needed—especially to wipe out addiction entirely.
Numbers in a Nutshell
- Global smokers dropped from 1.397 billion in 2000 to 1.337 billion in 2018—a decline of around 60 million.
- That reduction is largely thanks to women and girls quitting more—moving from 346 million in 2000 to 244 million last year.
- Now that the male side is starting to steer downward, the overall smoking trend looks brighter and, hopefully, sooner.
The Road Ahead
While the shift is promising, the WHO reminds us that tackling smoking isn’t a quick fix; it’s a long‑term game. Governments, NGOs, and the public all need to keep up the pressure to keep the numbers falling.
So there’s a new story to celebrate: the men are getting a chance to breathe easier. Let’s keep pushing until the smoke is a thing of the past.
Fast‑Track Break‑Ups: Men Are Finally Saying “No Thanks” to Tobacco
What the Numbers Tell Us
- Male smokers jumped by roughly 40 million – from 1.05 billion to 1.093 billion – during the same period.
- But the good news is that the number of men who smoke is actually dropping in the long run.
- By 2020, the male count fell by 2 million compared to the previous year.
- Fast forward to 2025, we expect about 6 million fewer male smokers than back in 2018 — roughly 1.087 billion.
Why Men Are Giving Up the Habit
WHO’s flagship health team, led by Ruediger Krech, credits a mix of global policies for these gains:
- Higher taxes on cigarettes.
- Strict bans on smoking in public places.
- Rigorously targeting tobacco marketing.
“Every one fewer male smoker means fewer people enduring avoidable pain and tragedy,” Krech emphasized. That’s a huge win.
It’s Not Just Men—Women Join the Trend Too
- Combined, men and women will see a reduction of 10 million smokers next year compared to 2018.
- By 2025, the total drop will be 27 million, bringing global smokers down to about 1.299 billion.
- About 60 % of countries have already reported declines in tobacco use since 2010.
Still Burying a Billion Users
Despite these strides, the WHO urges that progress is moving too slowly. Less than a third of nations are on track to cut global tobacco use by 30 % by 2025, relative to 2010. In other words, over one billion people still light up.
Time to Keep the Momentum Going
Krech reminds us: “We cannot settle for a sluggish decline when the numbers are still sky‑high.” Let’s keep the policies rolling, keep the stigma high, and watch as more folks ditch their sticks.
