- It is estimated that each cigarette consumed is equivalent to 11 minutes less life.
- The Covid-19 pandemic and mobility restrictions caused a decrease in tobacco consumption in countries such as Spain, the United States, France and the United Kingdom.
- On the other hand, in China, South Africa, India and Colombia an increase has been registered.
Tobacco use has been around for thousands of years throughout the world. It is one of the oldest practices in history because it was common in multiple cultures. Although something very important is that in the past there was no knowledge that we have today about its harmful effect on health.
To begin with, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that More than 7 million people globally die each year due to smoking. While many others develop a noticeable decrease in their quality of life because of this addiction.
With the above in mind, it is estimated that each cigarette consumed is equivalent to 11 minutes less life. In addition, this habit generates diseases such as lung cancer, cardiovascular and chronic obstructive pulmonary cancer. It is also related to respiratory conditions such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, aneurysm, hypertension, and circulatory problems.
Cigarette smoking is a ritual that has transcended time and cultures. However, in recent decades, the issue of smoking has acquired significant relevance and has been widely debated due to its considerable impact on public health and society in general.
While the growing awareness of the issue has led to a decrease in cigarette consumption in some countries, others still face difficulties in dealing with its increase.
Countries with the highest and lowest tobacco consumption in the world
Based on data published by Statista Market Insights, highlights the increase in cigarette consumption in South Africa in recent times. After a substantial drop in 2020 due to a five-month ban on tobacco sales during the COVID-19 outbreak, the per capita volume of cigarette consumption has rebounded rapidly in the African nation. In 2022, average consumption reached 1,763 units, which represents an increase of 14% over the previous year.
On the other hand, China maintains a relatively stable number of cigarettes smoked per person, averaging around 2,000 units. While in India a decrease in consumption has been observed from one year to the next. It is a trend that is expected to continue in the coming years.
In Europe, smokers are gradually putting out their butts. In Spain, the number of cigarettes per capita decreased by 2%, compared to a decline of more than 4% in France and the United Kingdom.
On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, Americans are also reducing their consumption, smoking 3.8% less than in 2021. In Latin America, both Brazil and Mexico, the region’s main markets, registered a decline in cigarette consumption, while Colombia The US and Peru have experienced an increase since the pandemic that, according to forecasts, will continue to rise in the future.
Also read:
GRAPHIC: Pandemic causes fewer tobacco smokers in the world
7 million people die every year in the world because of tobacco: WHO
López-Gatell asks to stop normalizing tobacco consumption: “It is one of the main threats to public health”