WHO: Global tobacco use falls but youth vaping surges

The World Health Organization on Monday released a global tobacco report showing that while fewer people smoke than two decades ago, a rapid rise in e-cigarette use—particularly among adolescents—is threatening progress. The agency estimated more than 100 million people now vape worldwide, including about 86 million adults and roughly 15 million children aged 13 to 15, and warned that in countries with available data adolescents are on average nine times more likely than adults to use e-cigarettes.

The report found global tobacco users fell from 1.38 billion in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024, a decline driven largely by reductions among women and in some regions. Since 2010 the number of users has dropped by about 120 million, a 27 percent relative fall, but that still leaves roughly one in five adults using tobacco. The WHO said this rate of decline falls short of the United Nations target of a 30 percent relative reduction and represents some 50 million fewer users than would be required to hit the goal.

E-cigarette use is concentrated in higher-income countries and is growing among young people, the agency said. The global prevalence of vaping among 13 to 15 year olds was...