In 2015, there were 933·1 million (95% UI 831·3–1054·3) daily smokers in the world, 82·3% of whom were men (768·1 million [690·1–852·2]). The ten countries with the largest number of smokers together accounted for 63·6% of the world’s daily smokers. China, India, and Indonesia, the three leading countries in total number of male smokers, accounted for 51·4% of the world’s male smokers in 2015. On the other hand, the USA, China, and India, which were the leading three countries in total number of female smokers, accounted for only 27·3% of the world’s female smokers. Together, these results suggest that the tobacco epidemic is less geographically concentrated for women than for men.

Among the ten countries with the largest number of total smokers in 2015, seven recorded significant decreases in male smoking prevalence and five had significant decreases in female smoking prevalence since 1990 (table…