Smoking in the Middle East and North Africa region - statistics & facts
Despite global efforts to reduce smoking rates, the prevalence of tobacco use in the MENA region remains high. Some countries, such as Lebanon, have a prevalence of smokers reaching as high as 37 percent. Cultural norms, social acceptance, and limited public health campaigns contribute to sustained smoking rates. Tobacco consumption patterns often involve regular use in social settings, such as cafes and gatherings, where smoking is considered a cultural tradition. However, this habit has contributed to a significant burden of tobacco-related diseases in the region, including lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and respiratory ailments.
Although some measures, such as the number of direct and indirect bans on tobacco marketing in MENA countries, are underway, effectively tackling these challenges demands comprehensive tobacco control policies. Possible strategies that have experienced various levels of success in other regions include stricter regulations on advertising and sales, public education campaigns, smoke-free laws, and support for quitting programs tailored to the cultural and social context of the MENA region.
Both local companies, such as Eastern Company SAE (Egypt) and Al-Fakher (UAE), and international companies, such as Philip Morris, have a strong presence in the region. Alongside selling some of the most popular brands in the region, such as Marlboro and L&M, Philipp Morris has a near monopoly over the region's heated tobacco products market, also known as HEETS and related products. Philip Morris’s shipment of heated tobacco to the region was almost 4.5 million units in 2022.
Tobacco usage and health concerns
One of the major concerns associated with the tobacco industry in MENA is the exposure to secondhand smoke, which poses health risks to non-smokers. Smoking indoors is common in many households and public spaces, leading to widespread exposure to harmful toxins. The rate of exposure to secondhand smoke in countries of the MENA region ranged between 30 to 50 percent in 2019. Additionally, underage smoking remains a pressing issue, with a significant proportion of youth initiating tobacco use at an early age. For example, in 2023, the average age of a child’s first smoking experience in Al-Baha region of Saudi Arabia was as young as nine years old.Although some measures, such as the number of direct and indirect bans on tobacco marketing in MENA countries, are underway, effectively tackling these challenges demands comprehensive tobacco control policies. Possible strategies that have experienced various levels of success in other regions include stricter regulations on advertising and sales, public education campaigns, smoke-free laws, and support for quitting programs tailored to the cultural and social context of the MENA region.
Will tobacco consumption patterns change in MENA?
The tobacco industry in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region plays a significant role in both the global and regional markets. Revenue of the tobacco industry in the MENA region was expected to surpass 100 billion U.S. dollars by 2026. MENA countries are major consumers of tobacco products, with a diverse range of preferences among consumers. Although there has been a notable increase in the popularity of waterpipes (Hookah or Shisha) and electronic cigarettes, traditional cigarettes remain the most popular among nicotine products in the MENA region, at a market share of almost 90 percent of retail value.Both local companies, such as Eastern Company SAE (Egypt) and Al-Fakher (UAE), and international companies, such as Philip Morris, have a strong presence in the region. Alongside selling some of the most popular brands in the region, such as Marlboro and L&M, Philipp Morris has a near monopoly over the region's heated tobacco products market, also known as HEETS and related products. Philip Morris’s shipment of heated tobacco to the region was almost 4.5 million units in 2022.
