South-East Asia has made remarkable progress in reducing tobacco use, emerging as the fastest region in the world to cut down smoking and tobacco consumption, according to a recent report by the World Health Organization (WHO). The report, titled “WHO Global Report on Trends in Prevalence of Tobacco Use 2000-2024 and Projections 2025-2030”, highlights both achievements and ongoing challenges in the fight against tobacco.
Despite the progress, the report warns that over 322 million adults and 8.6 million adolescents in the region still use tobacco. Experts say this calls for stronger policies, higher taxes, expanded support for quitting, and stricter regulation of new nicotine products to protect public health.
Dr Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge of WHO South-East Asia, said, “The progress is encouraging, but millions are still using tobacco and new nicotine products. We must accelerate actions to protect children and future generations. Countries of South-East Asia have shown what can be achieved with strong political commitment, comprehensive policies, and community engagement.” 
The report shows that the region, once the global hotspot for tobacco use, has made dramatic reductions over the last two decades. In 2000, men in South-East Asia had the world’s highest tobacco use at 70.1%, and women at 38%. By 2024, these numbers dropped to 37.4% among men and 9.3% among women, marking one of the fastest declines recorded globally.
Still, the region remains home to a quarter of the world’s tobacco users. More than 288 million people use smokeless tobacco, representing 80% of the global total. Electronic cigarette use is also rising, with an estimated 1.8 million adults and 500,000 adolescents using e-cigarettes, although the real number may be higher. Experts caution that this is a growing health concern, especially for young people.
“Tobacco use continues to be one of the leading preventable causes of disease, disability, and death,” said Dr Boehme. “Governments must continue implementing strong tobacco control measures, including raising taxes, enforcing smoke-free areas, strengthening health warnings, banning tobacco advertising, and regulating new nicotine products.”
WHO has been actively working with countries in the region to provide support for quitting, close regulatory gaps, and prevent children and adolescents from starting tobacco use. These steps, based on the WHO FCTC (Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) and the MPOWER package, are seen as crucial to further reducing tobacco-related harm.
Globally, tobacco use is expected to decline by 120 million users between 2010 and 2025, with South-East Asia contributing more than half of this reduction – approximately 69 million fewer users. Among countries in the region, Bangladesh, India, and Nepal are on track to achieve at least a 30% reduction in tobacco use by 2025. Other countries, including Bhutan, DPR Korea, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, are expected to see smaller declines.
While South-East Asia has made historic progress in cutting tobacco use, health experts say the fight is far from over. Millions remain at risk, and urgent, sustained action is needed to protect future generations from the deadly effects of tobacco.
