According to the World Health Organization WHO one hundred million deaths were caused by tobacco in the 20th century and if current trends continue there will be up to one billion deaths attributed to tobacco use in the 21st century There are more than one billion smokers in the world and globally the use of tobacco products is increasing with the epidemic shifting to the developing world More than 80 of the world 39 s smokers live in low and middle income countries It is estimated that tobacco use kills 5 4 million people a year and accounts for 10 of adult deaths worldwide with up to 50 of smokers dying from a tobacco use related disease Unchecked tobacco related deaths will increase to more than eight million a year by 2030 and 80 of those deaths will occur in developing countries Tobacco use is a risk factor for six of the eight leading causes of deaths in the world including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases stroke and several malignant diseases
