Egypt’s smoking rate dropped to 14.2 percent in 2024, down from 17 percent in 2022 and 17.7 percent in 2020, according to data released by the cabinet’s media center.
The center published a series of infographics attributing the drop to the government’s recent anti-smoking measures.
It added that the cabinet has adopted a national strategy aimed at building a smoke-free society, which included public awareness campaigns, legal restrictions, and expanded health services to help smokers quit and ease the health and economic burden of tobacco use.
Authorities have intensified enforcement of the 2007 law banning smoking in healthcare and educational institutions, government offices, and youth centers.
In June 2023, the health minister issued a decree prohibiting smoking in all healthcare facilities, with fines ranging from EGP 1,000 to EGP 20,000 ($21–$420) for institutions failing to comply, and EGP 50 to EGP 100 ($1–$2) for individuals.
The government also established a Supreme Committee for Combating Tobacco, chaired by the health minister, to coordinate policies and monitor implementation.
It further banned the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 18, with fines of EGP 100–1,000 ($2–$20) and up to one year in prison for repeat offenders.
Access to smoking cessation services has expanded through national hotlines 105 and 15335 and mental health consultations via 16328.
Around 28 specialized clinics across Egypt now provide medical support for quitting.
Since 2022, nationwide awareness campaigns, such as United Against Tobacco and Better Without It have reached millions, with the first campaign reaching over 30 million people by October 2025 and the second providing more than 57,000 awareness and screening services.
The World Health Organization estimates that tobacco use costs Egypt over $5 billion annually in economic and social losses, with 75 percent attributed to premature deaths, reduced productivity, and healthcare expenses.
The cabinet noted that average household spending on smoking rose 104.8 percent to EGP 12,900 ($273) annually in 2024, up from EGP 6,300 ($133) in 2020, reflecting sharp increases in cigarette prices from tax hikes and currency depreciation that have raised raw material costs.
As of 2024, a pack of local brands, including the most affordable ones, costs around EGP 44 ($0,9), while international brands range from EGP 69 to EGP 105 ($1.5-$2).
The average monthly wage for workers in Egypt in 2023 was EGP 5,005 ($105), according to official statistics from CAPMAS, while the public sector minimum wage was increased to EGP 7,000 ($148) in 2024.
Source: Al-Ahram Online
