Khaberni - The World Health Organization said on Monday that at least 15 million minors aged between 13 and 15 smoke e-cigarettes around the world.
The organization added that the likelihood of youth smoking this type of cigarettes is 9 times higher on average compared to adults in countries where data is available.
The organization stated in its first global estimate of e-cigarette use that more than 100 million around the world now smoke e-cigarettes, including at least 86 million adults, most of them in high-income countries.
These figures come as the global use of tobacco continues to decline. The number of tobacco users decreased to 1.2 billion smokers in 2024 from 1.38 billion in 2000.
Given that stricter regulations help reduce tobacco use, this sector has turned to alternative products such as e-cigarettes to help offset declining sales.
Tobacco companies say they target adult smokers with the aim of helping them quit smoking and reduce the harm of traditional tobacco.
The World Health Organization warned that nearly 1 in 5 adults around the world still smokes tobacco products, and called for strengthening the enforcement of tobacco control measures and regulating the use of new nicotine products such as e-cigarettes.
