WHO Reports Global Progress on Tobacco Control Measures
The 2019 report details international efforts to expand cessation services and curb tobacco use.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Asthma
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In its 2019 report on the global tobacco epidemic, the World Health Organization noted that 5 billion people live in countries with at least one implemented MPOWER tobacco control measure. The study highlights progress in cessation services while noting that 1.1 billion people worldwide still smoke tobacco.
Why it matters
Tobacco control measures are designed to reduce product demand, and comprehensive cessation services are considered essential to achieving universal health coverage. Currently, 80% of the world's 1.1 billion smokers reside in low- and middle-income countries, underscoring the need for accessible quit support.
There are 2.4 billion people living in countries with comprehensive cessation services, while only 23 countries provide these services at the highest best-practice level. Additionally, 59 countries have not adopted any MPOWER measures at the highest level.
The players
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.
The details
The MPOWER strategy monitors usage, protects people from smoke, offers help to quit, warns of dangers, enforces advertising bans, and raises taxes. Cessation support ranges from toll-free quit lines and mobile-based services to primary care counseling and nicotine replacement therapy.
Timeline
2007: MPOWER report launched.
2016: 8% population coverage for tobacco taxation.
2017: Previous WHO report issued.
2018: 14% population coverage for tobacco taxation.
2019: Seventh report on global tobacco epidemic released.
Health Landscape
The MPOWER strategy provides a standardized framework for tracking global health interventions against the goals of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The 2019 report highlights the uneven adoption of these standards, demonstrating how health policy implementation varies across diverse national systems.
The global expansion of cessation services means more individuals have access to quit lines, counseling, and nicotine replacement therapies. These public health efforts aim to lower barriers to treatment, making it easier for smokers to receive professional medical support to quit.
The takeaway
Universal health coverage relies on integrating tobacco cessation services into existing primary care systems. Readers looking to quit can explore local public health resources to determine what evidence-based support, such as counseling or medication, is available in their area.
Further reading
Learn more about the environmental and behavioral factors impacting respiratory health at Asthma.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Who.
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