The WHO points out that tobacco control remains underutilized in the global fight against cancer

The latest WHO global cancer report, prepared in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), confirms once again that tobacco control remains one of the most important, if not the most important, levers for prevention in reducing the global cancer burden, which accounts for 10 million deaths per year. Despite real progress over the past fifteen years, the decline in tobacco use remains incomplete, uneven across regions, and insufficient to prevent a sharp future increase in the number of cancers.[1].

The fight against tobacco is a major lever in the fight against cancer, particularly lung cancer.

In 2024, approximately 1.2 billion people aged 15 and over were still using tobacco worldwide, representing an average prevalence of 19.5 %, and this use was responsible for 15 % of new cancers recorded globally.

However, the WHO points out that tobacco control policies have led to a reduction of approximately 27% in the global prevalence of traditional smoking since 2010, a development presented as one of the greatest public health successes worldwide in the fight against various cancers. Tobacco is indeed implicated in the development of at least 17 types of cancer. Among women, the decline has been more rapid, while the reduction remains slower among men, who are still the primary smokers.

The WHO emphasizes that the decline in lung cancer mortality observed in men in many countries is directly linked to tobacco control policies implemented over several decades and is a good indicator of the effectiveness of these policies. More generally, the WHO clearly stresses that tobacco control is the most advanced and immediately cost-effective public health intervention.

This improvement, however, should not obscure the scale of the current and future problem. The report's authors emphasize that the progress achieved is insufficient to reverse the overall trend in cancer due to the still inadequate effectiveness of many protective measures and the continued high prevalence of smoking.

The implementation of WHO anti-smoking recommendations remains incomplete.

The WHO reiterates certain key, particularly cost-effective, measures that should be systematically implemented and are compiled in the MPOWER program: monitoring consumption and prevalence, regularly and significantly increasing taxes on all tobacco products, protecting against exposure to tobacco smoke through the development of smoke-free areas and smoking bans, offering smoking cessation support, warning of health risks, and prohibiting advertising, promotion, and sponsorship. The report notes that 155 countries are implementing at least one measure from the MPOWER program, based on best practices, compared to only 44 in 2007. However, full implementation remains far from widespread, particularly regarding tax policy and the prohibition of all advertising.

Similarly, smoking cessation support remains inconsistent, with access to care for smokers not always guaranteed. Without this support, a significant portion of the population remains vulnerable to nicotine addiction and its health consequences.

However, the fight against smoking remains largely underfunded and insufficiently prioritized in national health policies. The report highlights that industry influence, through marketing, lobbying, litigation, and the development of new nicotine products, continues to undermine prevention policies in many countries.

Significant socioeconomic inequalities between countries

Furthermore, the report highlights a growing gap between high-income countries and low- or middle-income countries. Progress is faster where healthcare systems are better funded, tobacco control policies are more effectively implemented, and smoking cessation services are more accessible (Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, etc.). Conversely, the most vulnerable countries bear a heavier cancer burden while having fewer resources for prevention (Africa, the Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, etc.). Cancer not only affects health but can also destabilize household living conditions, leading to reduced income, sometimes interrupted schooling, and impoverishment of families.

This inequality is evident in the projected trajectories for 2050. The WHO estimates that the annual number of new cancer cases could increase by approximately 66.7 million worldwide, with particularly sharp increases in low- and middle-income countries. Tobacco use is the leading modifiable cause that can help curb this increase.

The fight against tobacco could inspire the fight against other avoidable risk factors

The development of cancer is multifactorial. A significant proportion is linked to lifestyle and is therefore at least partially preventable. This is the case for tobacco use, but also for alcohol, ultra-processed foods, obesity, physical inactivity, and certain infections. These latter factors account for 15%, 10%, 3%, and 2% of all new cancer cases, respectively.

The WHO points out that progress in these areas remains slower than that achieved in the fight against tobacco use. Prevention campaigns, screening, and access to care remain highly uneven, which limits the overall impact of cancer control strategies. Thus, in this context, tobacco remains a priority target, but public policies for tobacco reduction also serve as benchmarks for other public health issues.

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[1]Global status report on cancer 2026 - The future we choose together, World Health Organization, published on July 8, 2026, accessed on July 9, 2026

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