Second-hand smoke deaths in India jump nearly 50% since 1990
A new Lancet Public Health study finds that deaths linked to passive smoking in India rose by almost 50% since 1990, reaching 325,600 in 2023.
Research published in The Lancet Public Health shows a sharp increase in fatalities caused by second-hand smoke across India, up roughly 50% from 1990 levels. The 2023 toll stood at 325,600 deaths. The study also reports that 444 million Indians were exposed to passive smoke in 2023, the second-largest number worldwide after China. These figures highlight a growing public-health crisis despite existing tobacco-control measures. The authors call for stronger policies to protect non-smokers.
Why it matters
The rise in passive-smoking deaths signals a major public-health challenge for billions of Indians exposed to second-hand smoke.
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