Estimates of global and regional smoking prevalence in 1995, by age and sex.
OBJECTIVE
We calculated regional and sex- and age-specific smoking prevalence estimates worldwide in 1995.


METHODS
Sex-specific smoking prevalence data from studies in 139 countries and age distribution data from 7 studies were analyzed.


RESULTS
Globally, 29% of persons aged 15 years or older were regular smokers in 1995. Four fifths of the world's 1.1 billion smokers lived in low- or middle-income countries. East Asian countries accounted for a disproportionately high percentage (38%) of the world's smokers. Males accounted for four fifths of all smokers, and prevalence among males and females was highest among those aged 30 to 49 years (34%).


CONCLUSIONS
Future decades will see dramatic increases in tobacco-attributable deaths in low- and middle-income regions. Although much of this excess mortality can be prevented if smokers stop smoking, quitting remains rare in low- and middle-income countries.
Jha
Prabhat
P
World Bank, Washington, DC, USA. prabhat.jha@utoronto.edu
Ranson
M Kent
MK
Nguyen
Son N
SN
Yach
Derek
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019049:Developed Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D014943:Global Health; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology