Economic Effects of Smoking

Study Notes

Tobacco kills up to half of its users, with over 8 million people dying each year, including 1.3 million non-smokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke.
Around 80% of the world's 1.3 billion smokers live in low- and middle-income countries.
In 2020, 22.3% of the world's population used tobacco, with 36.7% of men and 7.8% of women being smokers.

Smoking increases the risk of coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times, stroke by 2 to 4 times, and lung cancer by 25 times.
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer (90% of deaths), chronic bronchitis, emphysema (COPD), and increases the risk of death from all causes.

The economic costs of tobacco use are substantial, including significant healthcare costs, lost human capital, and diverted household spending from basic needs to tobacco.
The costs of smoking have been estimated to drain around US$ 1.4 trillion dollars from the global economy in a single year.
Tobacco use contributes to poverty by diverting household spending from basic needs to tobacco, and high tobacco burdens threaten sustainable development by exacerbating poverty in poor households.

Smoking contributes to a myriad of health problems, including cancer, heart disease, and respiratory disorders, leading to increased healthcare expenditures.
Treatment, hospitalization, medication, and long-term care for smoking-related illnesses impose a significant financial burden on healthcare systems.

Smokers are more likely to experience absenteeism, reduced productivity, and premature death compared to non-smokers.
Exposure to secondhand smoke can affect the productivity of non-smokers in the workplace, further exacerbating economic losses.

Smoking-related illnesses can lead to disability, early retirement, and decreased earning potential, resulting in lost wages and income for individuals and their families.

Governments generate significant revenue through taxes on tobacco products, contributing to public funds and budgets.

Governments allocate funds for tobacco control measures, such as public health campaigns and smoking cessation programs, aimed at reducing smoking prevalence and mitigating healthcare costs.

The production, distribution, and disposal of tobacco products contribute to environmental degradation, requiring resources and having economic implications for communities and ecosystems.

The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is an international agreement adopted in 2003 to address the global health epidemic caused by tobacco.

MPOWER is a practical, cost-effective initiative to scale up implementation of the demand reduction provisions of the WHO FCTC.
MPOWER includes measures such as monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies, protecting people from tobacco smoke, offering help to quit tobacco use, and enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.

Jordan has one of the highest smoking rates in the world and the highest in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
Tobacco use is associated with approximately 1 in 8 deaths in Jordan, costing the country an estimated US$2.67 billion in healthcare expenditures and lost productivity.

Giving up tobacco has immediate and long-term health benefits, including a decrease in blood pressure and pulse, an increase in oxygen levels, and a reduced risk of heart attack and lung cancer.
Quitting tobacco also improves lung function, circulation, and overall physical health, reducing the risk of various diseases and improving quality of life.