If current patterns persist, smoking will kill more than 8 million a year by 2030, of which more than 80% will occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Studies have shown that smoking is becoming increasingly concentrated in the lower socioeconomic groups.
Tobacco growth and use poses a heavy burden on governments and society as a whole.
Maternal smoking during pregnancy is an important cause of ill health for both mother and fetus.
Tobacco is the number one cause of preventable death in the world today.
Questions and Answers
More than 79,000 adults died in 2002 as a result of passive smoking in 25 countries of the EU. A total of just over 19,000 of the deaths were among non-smokers.