Smoking in Egypt
In Egypt, smoking is legal and cigarettes can be purchased in person or online, and imported for trade. However, sales through vending machines are banned. Moreover, there is a minimum age requirement of 18 years for all tobacco purchases, and all packages must display a health warning. Additionally, there is a total ban on all forms of advertising and promotion for these products. Smoking in public is also banned in places such as healthcare and educational facilities. Cigarettes are subject to a specific excise tax of 19.51% and a total taxation rate of 74.88%. As of 2024, the current prevalence of tobacco smoking among adults in Egypt was significant, with an overall rate of 24.9% among individuals aged 15 and older. This prevalence was notably higher among males with 49.2%, compared to only 0.4% among females. The total number of current adult smokers in Egypt was approximately 19.5 million in 2024. In comparison, the adult current smoking prevalence in 2020 was slightly lower at 21.1%, with male smokers accounting for 41.8% and female smokers at 0.3%. Notably, in 2019, the prevalence of smoking was 21.4% overall, with 42.3% among males and 0.4% among females. The adult daily tobacco smoking prevalence in 2017 was 18.4% with 35.3% among males and 0.4% among females. Smoking-related mortality accounted for 11% of all deaths in Egypt in 2021, representing 78,337 deaths including 66,464 male deaths and 11,873 female deaths. This indicates that the annual percentage of all deaths attributed to tobacco smoking in 2021 was 15.6% among males and 4.16% among females. These statistics highlight the ongoing public health challenge posed by tobacco smoking in Egypt, necessitating continued efforts in reducing smoking health impacts in the country.
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April 26, 2022 by tobaccoreporter.com
Vaping Industry Welcomes Legalization in Egypt
The vapor industry has welcomed Egypt’s decision to allow the import and commercialization of e-cigarette product.
“The lifting of the ban highlights the Egyptian authorities’ progressive approach to e-cigarettes and sets the stage for the creation of a regulated market rich with business opportunities, through serving the demand for easily accessible, quality products by legal age (adult) consumers across the country,” [...] With its recent decision, Egypt joins global and regional markets, such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, which have legalized and commercialized the consumption of e-cigarettes. [...]