World No Tobacco Day

May 31

Deaths caused by smoking

Deaths today

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Deaths this year

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Key fact

Tobacco kills up to half of its users. A smoker loses an average of 10 years of life expectancy. Quitting before age 40 reduces the risk of dying from smoking-related disease by about 90%.

Deaths / year

8,000,000

Deaths / day

21,918

Deaths / hour

913

Deaths / second

0.25

About this day

World No Tobacco Day is observed on May 31 each year by the WHO and partners to highlight the health risks of tobacco use and advocate for effective policies to reduce consumption. Tobacco kills more than 8 million people each year, including 1.3 million non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke.

What you can do

Quit smoking — speak to your doctor about cessation aids and support programmes
Never start smoking or using tobacco products
Protect others from second-hand smoke, especially children
Support tobacco control policies including higher taxes and plain packaging
Share the facts about tobacco harm with friends and family

Related data

Explore detailed statistics, live counters, and risk factors for the cause behind this awareness day.

Deaths caused by smoking

Disclaimer: Statistics are based on the latest available WHO and UN data. Actual figures may vary by year and source. This page is intended for awareness and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.