One-third of the world's adult population are smokers (57% of these are men, 43% are women) and each year, tobacco causes 3.5 million deaths a year, or about 10,000 deaths each day. It is predicted that in 20 years this yearly death rate from tobacco use will be more than 10 million people. This dwarfs other health problems like AIDS or maternal deaths.
{"Global Tobacco Epidemic, according to WHO," ASH Review, May/June 1999}

An estimated 50 million Americans are smokers (25% of the population). About 20 million smokers try to break the habit every year, with only about a million actually managing to quit. Another million become new smokers annually.
{"Anytime's a Good Time to Quit Smoking," Washington Post Health, July 11, 2000}

An estimated 48 million U.S. adults currently smoke: 28% of men and 22% of women. Adult smoking has remained unchanged during the 1990s.
{ABCNEWS, Jan. 2000}

The CDC says smoking among young adults, ages 18 to 24, has been rising for the first time to the level of those 25 to 44. High school rates are even higher. Banning smoking in the workplace and other smoking restrictions are the major reason for decline in people who smoke.
{John Banzhaf, head of ASDH - Action on Smoking, HealthCentral - May 2000}

Over one million smokers of the 50 million are stopping yearly, but one million teenagers are picking up the habit. Presently 10% of the doctors smoke in the U.S. (One fourth of the Japanese doctors smoke.)

Smoking in developing countries is rising by more than 3% a year.
{"Tobacco Deceit," Washington Post, Aug. 3, 2000}

jrussellshealth/smoking.html