Tobacco control reaping benefits despite global rise to one billion smokers

The number of regular smokers has grown worldwide to over one billion, but major progress has been made in sustained efforts to combat the prevalence of the habit, according to new research from medical journal The Lancet.

Smoking was found to be the second leading risk factor for early death and disability worldwide in 2015, being the lead cause in one in ten deaths. Around 6.4m deaths were attributed to tobacco during 2015, with China, India, the US and Russia making up over half of that number.

However, Lancet found that between 1990 and 2015, smoking prevalence among men dropped from 35% to 25%, while the percentage dropped from 8% to 5% for women.

Around 6.4m deaths were attributed to tobacco during 2015

Dr Emanuela Gakidou from the University of Washington, who coordinated the study, said that although a lot of hard work has been done by governments and other institutions, there is still a long way to go.

"Despite more than 50 years of anti-tobacco efforts, smoking remains a leading global risk factor. Its toll will remain substantial without more concerted policy initiatives, policy compliance and enforcement, and sustained political will to offset commercial interests," Dr Gakidou said.

The report called on governments across the globe to implement new legislation which will allow further development in bringing the number of smokers down.

"Success is possible, but requires effective and aggressively enforced policies and laws. Intensified efforts are also greatly needed to keep smoking prevalence rates low in populations which have not experienced a devastating epidemic yet."