Health > Daily smokers: Countries Compared
Author: Luke.Metcalfe
Daily smokers are defined as individuals who smoke at least one cigarette per day. Smoking increases the risk of morbidity and mortality, and is the leading cause of preventable deaths in developed nations. It is associated with different types of cancers (especially lung cancer), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, and stroke.
In recent studies, the overall smoking rates have decreased worldwide, but due to the increasing global population, the total number of smokers is now higher than ever. Between 1980 and 2012, the overall prevalence of smoking has decreased by 25% in men, and 42% in women. However, due to population growth, the total number of male daily smokers has increased by 41% and female daily smokers by 7%. Worldwide, the number of cigarettes smoked per day has increased by 26%.
Since 1980, daily smoking rates have been higher in men. The prevalence of smoking in women as a function of age differs between developed and developing countries. The patterns are similar to those of men in developed countries while in developing countries, the prevalence was much lower and showed an increase with age. The highest prevalence rates for women occurred between the ages of 20-49 years in developed countries at more than 20%.
The countries with the highest daily smoking prevalence in men were Timor-Leste at 61.1%, Indonesia at 57% and Kiribati at 54.4%. Countries with the lowest rates in men include Nigeria at 7.5%, Sao Tome and Principe at 7% and Antigua and Barbuda at 5%. In women, the countries with the highest daily smoking rates are Greece at 34.7%, Bulgaria at 31.5% and Kiribati at 31.3%. The countries with the lowest prevalence rates in women are Morocco at 0.7% and Eritrea and Cameroon, both at 0.6%.
Between 1980 and 2012, the countries which showed the fastest annual decline in daily smoking prevalence were Iceland, Mexico and Canada, all at 3%. Countries with the highest annual increase in prevalence include Bulgaria at 0.5%, Serbia at 0.6% and Lithuania at 0.8%.
Countries with the highest prevalence and the highest consumption of cigarettes per day have the greatest health related risks from smoking. These include China, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Korea, the Philippines and Russia.
Aside from health associated risks, the economic impact of smoking is also substantial. In the UK, one pack a day is estimated to cost each smoker £2,900 a year while in the US the estimate is at $2,000 a year. In California alone, productivity losses due to smoking related death and illness is estimated at $8.5 billion per year. In the UK, estimated annual losses due to smoking related morbidity and mortality is at £5.2 billion.
The economic impact of smoking is especially greater in developing countries. Aside from loss of income due to death and disabilities related to smoking and the household revenue spent on cigarettes, the tobacco industry has been shown to perpetuate the cycle of poverty and debt in these nations.
Citations:
1) Ng M, Freeman MK, Fleming TD, et al. Smoking prevalence and cigarette consumption in 187 countries, 1980-2012. JAMA. 2014;311(2):183-192. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.284692. http://www.healthmetricsandevaluation.org/sites/default/files/newsrelease/2013/Global%20tobacco%20paper1.pdf
2) ASH Fact Sheet on the economics of tobacco. http://www.ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_121.pdf
3) Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The health effects of smoking. http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/datastatistics/factsheets/healtheffects/effectscig_smoking/
4) Tobacco Free CA. Economic impact of tobacco. http://www.tobaccofreeca.com/smoking-problem/impact/economic/
CONTENTS
Citation
Statistics for Health > Daily smokers
5
Daily smokers are defined as individuals who smoke at least one cigarette per day. Smoking increases the risk of morbidity and mortality, and is the leading cause of preventable deaths in developed nations. It is associated with different types of cancers (especially lung cancer), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, and stroke.
In recent studies, the overall smoking rates have decreased worldwide, but due to the increasing global population, the total number of smokers is now higher than ever. Between 1980 and 2012, the overall prevalence of smoking has decreased by 25% in men, and 42% in women. However, due to population growth, the total number of male daily smokers has increased by 41% and female daily smokers by 7%. Worldwide, the number of cigarettes smoked per day has increased by 26%.
Since 1980, daily smoking rates have been higher in men. The prevalence of smoking in women as a function of age differs between developed and developing countries. The patterns are similar to those of men in developed countries while in developing countries, the prevalence was much lower and showed an increase with age. The highest prevalence rates for women occurred between the ages of 20-49 years in developed countries at more than 20%.
The countries with the highest daily smoking prevalence in men were Timor-Leste at 61.1%, Indonesia at 57% and Kiribati at 54.4%. Countries with the lowest rates in men include Nigeria at 7.5%, Sao Tome and Principe at 7% and Antigua and Barbuda at 5%. In women, the countries with the highest daily smoking rates are Greece at 34.7%, Bulgaria at 31.5% and Kiribati at 31.3%. The countries with the lowest prevalence rates in women are Morocco at 0.7% and Eritrea and Cameroon, both at 0.6%.
Between 1980 and 2012, the countries which showed the fastest annual decline in daily smoking prevalence were Iceland, Mexico and Canada, all at 3%. Countries with the highest annual increase in prevalence include Bulgaria at 0.5%, Serbia at 0.6% and Lithuania at 0.8%.
Countries with the highest prevalence and the highest consumption of cigarettes per day have the greatest health related risks from smoking. These include China, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Korea, the Philippines and Russia.
Aside from health associated risks, the economic impact of smoking is also substantial. In the UK, one pack a day is estimated to cost each smoker £2,900 a year while in the US the estimate is at $2,000 a year. In California alone, productivity losses due to smoking related death and illness is estimated at $8.5 billion per year. In the UK, estimated annual losses due to smoking related morbidity and mortality is at £5.2 billion.
The economic impact of smoking is especially greater in developing countries. Aside from loss of income due to death and disabilities related to smoking and the household revenue spent on cigarettes, the tobacco industry has been shown to perpetuate the cycle of poverty and debt in these nations.
Citations:
1) Ng M, Freeman MK, Fleming TD, et al. Smoking prevalence and cigarette consumption in 187 countries, 1980-2012. JAMA. 2014;311(2):183-192. doi:10.1001/jama.2013.284692. http://www.healthmetricsandevaluation.org/sites/default/files/newsrelease/2013/Global%20tobacco%20paper1.pdf
2) ASH Fact Sheet on the economics of tobacco. http://www.ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_121.pdf
3) Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The health effects of smoking. http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/datastatistics/factsheets/healtheffects/effectscig_smoking/
4) Tobacco Free CA. Economic impact of tobacco. http://www.tobaccofreeca.com/smoking-problem/impact/economic/
Posted on 14 Apr 2014
Luke.Metcalfe
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