China Lights Up

While the world is discussing greenhouse gas emissions, what about another emissions threat — the one emanating from smokers? We wonder:

Is it true or false that the number of smokers in China is larger than the U.S. population?

The correct answer is True. Of the currently 1.3 billion Chinese, about 350 million smoke — 27% of the country's population. In comparison, the United States has 308 million people.

Each year, China consumes up to one-third of the tobacco products sold worldwide, while it accounts for just one-fifth of the world population. The end result is that up to one million Chinese die each year from diseases directly linked to smoking, such as lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

While China accounts for 30% of the world's smokers, the share stands at about 12% in India and about 5% each in Indonesia, Russia and the United States.

To combat the problem, China has recently recruited Houston Rockets basketball star Yao Ming, a huge star in China, to join the wife of China's vice president to lead an anti-tobacco campaign. Yao was named an ambassador to the Chinese Association on Tobacco Control.

The Marketplace Globalist Quiz is produced by Marketplace and The Globalist — and researched by The Globalist's Mike McCarthy.

The text of this Marketplace Globalist Quiz may not be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of The Globalist. Copyright © 2010 The Globalist.