According to scientists' data, the number of people consuming chewing tobacco worldwide reached 241 million in 2023. This figure corresponds to 3.9 percent of the total adult population over 15 years old.
The main focus of chewing tobacco consumption was observed in the South Asia region. In particular, India is a significant center of this phenomenon, accounting for 64.3 percent of all men who chew tobacco, as well as 54.8 percent of all women who consume this product.
The study showed that the use of tobacco in chewing form is associated with fatal outcomes, leading to 251 thousand deaths. The results of this analysis were officially published in the scientific journal The Lancet Global Health.