DHAKA: Indian women have now figured right on top in an infamous list - smoking.

In a shocking trend, India has now more female smokers, over 12.1 million, than any country except the United States, reports The Times of India.

In 2012, female smoking prevalence was 3.2%, which is virtually unchanged since 1980.

Smokers in India consumed an average of 8.2 cigarettes per day as tobacco claims a million lives every year in the country.

Smoking has emerged as the third top risk for health loss in India.

Between 1980 and 2012, smoking prevalence among Indian men decreased from 33.8% to 23%.

In 2012, 967 million people smoked every day globally compared with 721 million in 1980.

Around three in 10 men (31%) and one in 20 women (6%) now smoke daily compared with four in 10 men (41%) and one in 10 women (10%) in 1980.

BDST: 2001 HRS, JAN 08, 2014
Edited by Robab Rosan, Current Affairs Editor