Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of premature mortality globally. Based on the Global Burden of Diseases Study, one in five NCD deaths can be attributed to tobacco, either by direct use or exposure to secondhand smoke.

In 2013, the WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013–2020 (Global NCD Action Plan) was adopted by the World Health Assembly to strengthen global and national responses to prevent and control NCDs.

The Global NCD Action Plan includes a global monitoring framework and nine voluntary global targets to be attained by 2025.

The first global target is a 25% relative reduction in overall mortality from the four major NCDs (cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases). In relation to tobacco, the global target is a 30% relative reduction in the prevalence of current tobacco use in individuals aged 15 years and older by 2025.

In 2018, WHO has released a third set of Country Profiles that provide an update on each Member State, presenting key data on NCD mortality, risk factor prevalence, national systems capacity to prevent and control NCDs and existence of national targets based on the Global Monitoring Framework.

The progress among Parties to the WHO FCTC has been specifically addressed in a supplementary report by the Convention Secretariat and WHO to the eight session of the Conference of the Parties (COP8).