November 2009 - According to the latest World Health Organisation data, almost one in five deaths in rich countries is caused by smoking.

Due to the fact that cancers and chronic respiratory diseases caused by tobacco use take time to develop, those who live in richer countries are feeling the adverse effects more strongly because they have been smoking longer.

The percentage of smoking-related deaths in poor countries is far lower. This can be attributed to the fact that many people in the poorer countries have adopted the smoking habits of the richer countries only very recently. It is predicted that the figures for tobacco-related deaths in the poorer countries will see a dramatic rise over the next 20 years.