WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2015
Raising taxes on tobacco
Publication details
Number of pages: 103
Publication date: 2015
Languages: English
ISBN: 978 92 4 150912 1 (Full report)
WHO reference number: WHO/NMH/PND/15.5 (Executive Summary)
Overview
The continued success in global tobacco control is detailed in this year’s WHO Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic, 2015: substantial progress has been made since the entry into force of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) ten years ago. The fifth in the series of WHO reports provides a snapshot of the MPOWER measures, with all country-specific data updated and aggregated through 2014. In addition, the report provides a special focus on tobacco taxation and in-depth analyses of tobacco taxes in all WHO Member States, allowing for a more detailed understanding of progress and future challenges in this area.
The progress in reaching the highest level of achievement in tobacco control is a sign of the growing success of the WHO FCTC and provides strong evidence that there is political will for tobacco control on both national and global levels. About 2.8 billion people are now covered by at least one MPOWER measure at the highest level of achievement. This is due to the actions taken by many WHO Member States to fight the tobacco epidemic. These countries can be held up as models of action for the many countries that need to do more to protect their people from the harm of tobacco use. The report also indicates that despite significant progress, much remains to be done, especially in areas such increasing tobacco taxes. With populations ageing and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) on the rise, tackling a huge and entirely preventable cause of disease and death becomes all the more imperative.
