There were 209 Million Cannabis Users Worldwide in 2020

In 2020, there were approximately 209 million cannabis users worldwide. This figure represents a slight increase compared to 2019, when the global number of cannabis users was around 200 million.

This data is recorded in the *World Drug Report 2022*, released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on Monday, June 27, 2022.

"In 2020, more than 4 percent of the global population aged 15–64 used cannabis in the past year," the UNODC wrote in its report.

All users recorded here are those who consumed cannabis for non-medical purposes.

In 2020, the highest number of cannabis users was in the Americas, with a total of 66.64 million users. Asia had approximately 60.8 million users, Africa 49.2 million, Europe 29.26 million, and Oceania 3.26 million.

According to the UNODC, globally, about two-thirds of cannabis users are male, and the remaining third are female. However, this proportion can vary significantly at the national level.

"In many high-income countries, the gender gap in cannabis use tends to be narrowing," the UNODC explained.

The report also found that cannabis consumption tended to increase during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"For example, a survey in Europe showed that people who consumed cannabis tended to increase their consumption during lockdowns," the report stated.

"Restrictions on outdoor activities also contributed to the rise in home-grown cannabis," it continued.