In a first, tobacco use among males is on the decline

A new WHO report on global tobacco trends finds that, for the first time, the number of males smoking tobacco is on the decline. Here’s what else is in the report: 

• Long-term trends: The decline in tobacco smoking was most pronounced among women, and overall, 60 million fewer people smoked in 2018 than in 2000. 
• Declines: The WHO projects 10 million fewer tobacco users by next year. The agency also projects that more than 1 million fewer men will be using the substance by then — and 5 million fewer men will be tobacco users come 2025. 
• Geographic trends: Countries in Southeast Asia had the highest proportion of tobacco users, while countries in the Americas were most on track to meet the WHO’s goal of reducing tobacco use by 30% in the next decade.