Indicator 30. Current use of any tobacco product (age-standardized rate)

Rationale and definition:

Tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable death in many developed countries, and is a growing problem and contributor to the burden of disease in developing countries. This indicator measures the prevalence of tobacco use (daily, non-daily, or occasional) of any tobacco product, including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff, chew, etc., for adults aged 15 years and over.1 It expands upon the WHO’s recommendation to further track use of smokeless tobacco products. The age-standardized prevalence rate of tobacco use (adjusted according to the WHO regression method) allows for comparisons across countries and across time periods to determine trends.2

Disaggregation:

By sex, age and urban/rural.

Comments and limitations:

To be reviewed.

Preliminary assessment of current data availability by Friends of the Chair:

A

Primary data source:

Household surveys.

Potential lead agency or agencies:

WHO.


  1. WHO Indicator and Measurement Registry (2011).

  2. Ibid.