Women comprise roughly 20% of the world’s 1 billion+ people who smoke, with about 200 million female tobacco users globally. Although smoking among women is generally decreasing, it is falling at a slower rate than in men. Tobacco disproportionately harms women and girls and is often overlooked as a women’s rights
Author: Angeline Morgado, ASH Policy Intern October 11, 2025 While global smoking rates among women have dropped faster than those of men, the story is far from over. According to the CDC, in the United States, about 10.1% of women still report smoking cigarettes every day or on some days.
Reproductive rights. Protection from gender-based violence. Maternity leave. Workplace discrimination. These are the topics that usually come to mind when one thinks about women’s rights. But one important protection is often left off of the list – tobacco control. Tobacco negatively impacts women in myriad ways. A few examples include:
