"Three-quarters of these 68,021 premature deaths concerned the male population." since smoking caused the death of 49,361 men and 18,660 women, – i.e. 16% of these deaths on the male side, 6% on the female side and 11% in total – details Public Health France (SpF) in a point on February 16, 2026.
This is less than in 2015, when 75,000 deaths were attributed to smoking: this is due to the gradual disappearance of generations "Having historically smoked the most" but also, SpF specifies, to the use of parameters incorporating more recent data.
This setback " limit " born "does not change the scale of the health problem" smoking
"A reflection of prevention policies"this setback " limit " born "does not change the scale of the health problem" smoking, which "significantly exacerbates social inequalities in health", the National Committee Against Smoking (CNCT) stated in a press release on Monday.
In 2023, cancer caused 581 deaths attributable to tobacco among men; 551 deaths among women. These were followed by cardiovascular diseases (14,101 deaths), chronic respiratory diseases (12,798) attributable to smoking, and to a lesser extent, acute respiratory illnesses (1,839) and diabetes (551).
Three French regions – Hauts-de-France, Grand Est and Corsica – "present the heaviest burden", SpF notes: smoking-related death rates exceed that of Ile de France, the lowest in mainland France, by 40%.
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A ten-year reduction in life expectancy
This mortality attributable to tobacco is "the consequence of smoking habits taken in their youth by generations of men and women who reach the age where diseases caused by smoking have a high incidence," observes SpF.
"A major cause of premature and preventable death" Smoking reduces the life expectancy of smokers, both men and women, by about ten years, the agency notes, judging " essential " to reach a "Tobacco-free generation" in particular through the implementation of the 3rd National Tobacco Control Programme currently underway.
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The CNCT, for its part, calls for "intensified public action" with an arsenal of proven measures: taxation "strong", "easier access to smoking cessation"Strict ban on advertising, protection of young people, smoke-free spaces, regulation of new nicotine products… SpF launched a “Become an Ex-smoker” communication campaign from February 16 to March 15.
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