2.1 Global trends in tobacco use and the transition to harm reduction

According to the "Global Tobacco Trends Report (2024) " released by the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of smokers worldwide is still large, with an estimated 1.25 billion adults using some form of tobacco products. Among them, about 80% come from low- and middle-income countries, reflecting the widespread global distribution of traditional tobacco problems.

Despite this, smoking rates continue to decline globally, especially in developed economies such as Europe, North America, and Japan. This change is mainly driven by the following three factors.

Increased awareness of health risks

• More and more studies have pointed out that smoking is highly correlated with various cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory diseases. The public's awareness of the harm of tobacco is constantly increasing, and the willingness to quit smoking is also increasing.

Tobacco control policies in various countries are becoming stricter

• Measures such as health warning maps for cigarette packs, comprehensive smoking bans in public places, and tobacco tax increases have significantly increased the cost of smoking and social resistance.

Rapid popularization of alternative products

• The rise of harm reduction products such as e-cigarettes, heat-not-burn devices (HNB), and nicotine patches is becoming an effective alternative to traditional tobacco.

According to WHO predictions , if the current trend of tobacco control continues, the number of smokers worldwide will drop to less than 1 billion by 2030, a decrease of more than 20%.