Over ten percent of women in the nation succumb to smoking-related deaths

In a recent analysis, the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg has calculated statistics based on the cause of death statistics of the Federal Statistical Office, shedding light on the distribution of tobacco-related deaths across different states in Germany. The findings, presented in the Tobacco Atlas, paint a picture of significant variations in smoking-related mortality rates among men and women across the country.

One of the key findings is the national average for tobacco-related deaths among men, which stands at 17.5%. However, the lowest values for such deaths are found in Baden-Württemberg, where the figure drops to 10.0%. On the other hand, the proportion of all deaths among women in Rhineland-Palatinate due to smoking is higher than the national average, with approximately 11.2% of women's deaths attributed to smoking-related causes.

Interestingly, the highest percentage of tobacco-related deaths among women is in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where about 9.8% of women died from causes linked to smoking in 2023. The exact number of women who died from smoking is not directly stated in the sources, but the share of women who died from smoking-related causes among all deaths in this federal state was 9.8%. Conversely, the lowest percentage of tobacco-related deaths among women is in Saxony.

The Tobacco Atlas also reveals some intriguing differences in smoking-related deaths between men and women in Rhineland-Palatinate. While the proportion of all deaths among men due to smoking is lower than the national average (17.5%), men are more frequently affected by smoking-related deaths than women in this state.

This comprehensive report serves as a reminder of the ongoing impact of smoking on public health in Germany and highlights the need for continued efforts to reduce tobacco use and its associated health risks. The Tobacco Atlas is a valuable resource for policymakers, health professionals, and the general public, providing insights into the regional variations in tobacco-related deaths and fostering informed discussions around tobacco control strategies.