Public Health, Epidemiology & Nutrition

Tobacco consumption

Tobacco use is the second leading cause of death and the fourth most common risk factor for disease worldwide. It is one of the biggest threats to public health the world has ever known, killing more than 8 million people a year worldwide.

 More than 7 million of these deaths are the result of direct smoking, while 1.2 million are the result of non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke. About 80% of the 1.1 billion smokers worldwide live in low- and middle-income countries, where the burden of tobacco-related illness and death is greatest. Tobacco use contributes to poverty by diverting household spending from basic needs such as food and shelter to tobacco. This spending behaviour is difficult to control because tobacco is highly addictive.