Around 10 million Egyptians – approximately one in eight of the total population – use some form of tobacco, said the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS). Around 16.3 percent smoke cigarettes, 3.3 smoke shisha (a water pipe popular in the Arab world) and 2.6 percent use chewing tobacco.

The average monthly expenditure of smokers on cigarettes is 110 EGP (U.S. $19). Most smokers are age 45-64; smoking in that age group has increased 25.8 percent.

CAPMAS added in a statement on the results of a survey of tobacco use among adults in Egypt, the rate of daily consumption of cigarettes among male smokers was one pack a day while it was half a pack among female smokers. The report said around 80 percent of those who use public transport are exposed to second-hand smoke, with the exception of those who travel on the metro. Also, 31 percent of employees are exposed to second-hand smoke in their workplaces, despite policies which prohibit smoking in public places.

The report said that the number of smokers globally is around 1.3 billion and the number is expected to increase to 1.7 billion in 2025. Each year, around 80-100,000 young people become full time smokers.

The deaths from diseases caused by smoking total 4.9 million deaths annually, representing 7 percent of the total deaths in the world. By 2025, it is estimated that deaths from diseases caused by smoking will reach 10 million deaths a year including 7 million deaths in developing countries.