MORTALITY FROM SMOKING WORLDWIDE

Estimates are made of the numbers and proportions of deaths attributab le to smoking in 44 developed countries in 1990. In developed countrie s as a whole, tobacco was responsible for 24% of all mole deaths and 7 % of all female deaths, rising to over 40% in men in some Former socia list economies and 17% in women in the USA. The average loss of life f or all cigarette smokers was about 8 years and for those whose deaths were attributable to tobacco about 16 years. Trends in mortality attri butable to tobacco differed between countries. In some the mortality i n middle age (35-69 years) had decreased by half in men since 1965; in others it was continuing to increase. In women, the proportion was mo stly increasing, almost universally in old age. Mortality not attribut able to smoking decreased since 1955 in all OECD (Organization for Eur opean Collaboration and Development) countries, by vp to 60% in men an d more in women. No precise estimate can be mode of the number of deat hs attributable to smoking in undeveloped countries, but the prevalenc e of smoking suggests that it will be large. In the world as a whole, some 3 million deaths a year a re estimated to be attributable to smok ing, rising to 10 million a year in 30-40 years' time.