- Random Facts About Tobacco -

These facts about tobacco use reveal the real truth about the many tobacco effects on human health and productivity.

Tobacco farming is so lucrative that farmers in developing countries would rather grow tobacco plants than food crops and worldwide the harmful effects of tobacco on human health are worse than any plague in the history of mankind.

Here are some random tobacco facts that illustrate the worldwide tobacco effects on health, the economy, and even the future of our global community.

Facts About the Harmful Effects of Tobacco on Health

• Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death, disability, and disease in the world.


• Tobacco use affects everyone not just smokers - almost half the world's children breathe air contaminated by cigarette smoking₁ (See Secondhand smoking)


• In the twentieth century there were 100 million deaths attributed to the use of tobacco. This number may reach more than one billion by the end of this century₁.


• Tobacco is a broad leafed plant and has an affinity for storing the radioactive substance called Polonium-210. The levels of polonium-210 can be up to seven times more concentrated in the lungs of a heavy smoker as compared to a non-smoker.

Facts About Tobacco Effects on the Economy

• The annual cost of tobacco use is more than $50 billion in direct medical costs, for a total of 97 billion in health care costs and lost productivity₂.


• Smokers are more expensive to employ. The Conference Board of Canada presents data about lost productivity and other costs that amount to $3396 per smoking employee₃.


• 80% of the world's smokers live in low and middle income countries₁. In fact smoking is more prevalent among those with lower incomes and in developed countries is highly prevalent among the unemployed.

Facts About Tobacco Farming

• Tobacco is one of the most profitable crops farmers can grow₄. In fact it is more profitable to grow tobacco than to grow food.


• In some countries farmers are looking for better ways to grow tobacco plants and to increase the yield from their land. This is often done at the cost of losing land for food production.


• China produces the most tobacco in the world (2,298.9 metric tonnes) followed by India, Brazil, and the United States (408.2 metric tonnes)₅.


• Growth in tobacco farming has occurred almost exclusively in developing countries since 1975. Developed countries have seen a decline in domestic tobacco production because of reduced demand₄.

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