Tobacco Use

• According to available data in North America and Latin America, between 1996 and 1999 tobacco prevalence in the population ranged from a high of approximately 40% in Argentina and Chile, to a low of 22% in Colombia. In some urban areas, more than half of young people smoke.
• Among men, the percentage who smoke ranges from 47% in Argentina and Chile to 26% in Colombia. Among women, the high is 36% in Chile, with a low of 16% in Peru.
• Current data on smoking rates in the Caribbean are unavailable for most countries; however prevalence is reported to range from less than 2% to 14%.
• Updated data are not available for many countries. These data are critical for identifying needs and measuring progress, and their collection should be a priority for all countries. Implementation of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey in selected Latin American and Caribbean countries will help solve this problem. All countries are encouraged to participate.

Tobacco-Caused Death

• Tobacco now kills over 4 million people annually. By 2030, it will kill 10 million people. Seven in 10 of these deaths will be in developing countries.
• Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the Americas, killing an estimated 625,000 people every year (430,000 in the US, 150,000 in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 45,000 in Canada).
• Tobacco use, which kills through chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and lung disease, has contributed to a Regional shift in causes of death from infectious to non-communicable diseases. In Latin America, more people already die of non-communicable diseases, many of which are caused by tobacco, than of communicable diseases, maternal and perinatal conditions and nutritional deficiencies. The trend toward non-communicable diseases is expected to continue.
• Despite the relatively low overall prevalence in some Caribbean countries, tobacco control remains important given that heart disease, stroke and cancer are the major causes of death in these countries.
• Detailed information on death in many countries is not available due to lack of data collection. Measures to improve information, such as a requirement in all countries for death certificates to list whether or not the deceased was a smoker, are needed.

Tobacco Production

The United States and Brazil are among the world's top five growers of tobacco, both in terms of land use and amount of production. Both countries have recognized the need to reduce tobacco use, and have implemented policies to achieve this goal.

For more information contact:

Heather Selin (202) 974-3383; selinhea@paho.org

Bryna Brennan (202) 974-3457; brennanb@paho.org