Europe, world leader in smoking - One in four people are smokers. The region surpasses Southeast Asia
Europe records the highest rate of tobacco use in the world, surpassing Southeast Asia, according to a report published by the World Health Organization (WHO).
The 2024 data show that just under one in four people (24.1%) aged 15 and over in Europe use tobacco, more than in any other region. European women also have the highest global prevalence, at 17.4%, the report said. The study also recorded global levels of e-cigarette (vape) use for the first time. The WHO said the figures were particularly "alarming" among young people.
The data comes as the European Commission has pledged to crack down on tobacco products. EU health and tax commissioners are pushing for higher taxes in an effort to curb diseases linked to their use, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease.
"The tobacco industry is counterattacking with new nicotine products, aggressively targeting young people," a WHO official said, calling on governments to act "faster and stronger" in implementing anti-tobacco policies.
Globally, an estimated 1.2 billion tobacco users aged 15 and over were registered in 2024. Tobacco prevalence is declining worldwide, but at a slower pace in Europe compared to other regions.
The figures for the WHO European region cover 53 countries. Tobacco prevalence in Europe has fallen from almost 35% in 2000 to just over 24% in 2020. Meanwhile, in Southeast Asia, use has fallen sharply from 54% to around 23% over the same period.
The WHO highlighted "worrying" data among adolescents aged 13 to 15, with around 7.2% using e-cigarettes, which translates to around 14.7 million children worldwide.
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