Overview

China is the tobacco capital of the world: in 2014, 44% of the world’s cigarettes were consumed in China – more than the next 29 countries combined. In 2015, there were approximately 315 million smokers in China – around 28% of the adult population, and more than half of all men. Overall smoking rates among women are low, but they may be increasing significantly among young females. Tobacco is taking an enormous toll on China’s health, with at least half of all smokers expected to die as a result of their tobacco habit. China’s tobacco habit hurts its poor and most vulnerable citizens the most – the health costs and other consequences of tobacco-related illness plunge many people into poverty, and prevent others from escaping it.