Global Decline, African Rise
A new analysis by the World Health Organization (WHO) finds that global tobacco-leaf production fell by nearly 19% between 2012 and 2024, while production in Africa increased by almost 9% over the same period. The report, which was covered by Mirage News and Tobacco Reporter, indicates that Africa accounted for around 11% of global tobacco-leaf production in 2024.
The analysis points to a development pattern in which African countries are producing and exporting increasing amounts of raw tobacco leaf while simultaneously spending significantly more to import manufactured cigarettes. Africa's cigarette import bill more than doubled during the period, rising from $833 million to $1.8 billion, according to the WHO findings as reported by both outlets.
Concentration of Production
Tobacco-leaf production in Africa is highly concentrated. The five largest producers—Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Uganda, in descending order—account for the large majority of the continent's output. East Africa alone accounts for nearly 90% of African tobacco-leaf production, the WHO analysis found, as reported by both Mirage News and Tobacco Reporter.
Health and Environmental Concerns
Dr. Vinayak Prasad, Head of the Tobacco Free Initiative at WHO, said: "This is not just a tobacco-control issue. It is a health, trade, development and environmental issue." He added that tobacco farming exposes workers and families to serious health risks, damages the environment, and can trap farmers in cycles of debt, while African economies spend more on imported cigarettes that "fuel addiction, disease and premature death."
The WHO analysis highlights several health and environmental risks associated with tobacco cultivation. Tobacco farming is associated with soil degradation, pesticide exposure, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emissions from the curing process. Farmers face direct health risks, including green tobacco sickness, caused by nicotine absorbed through the skin when handling wet tobacco leaves, as well as exposure to pesticides and tobacco dust. In some low- and middle-income countries, children from poor households miss school to work in tobacco farming to help supplement family income.
Economic Arguments and Policy Response
The WHO analysis challenges the argument that tobacco is economically indispensable for most countries. Tobacco-leaf exports account for more than 1% of GDP in only a small number of economies, such as Zimbabwe and Malawi. The WHO is calling for greater investment in crop diversification and economically viable alternatives for tobacco farmers, alongside stronger tobacco-control measures.
Under Articles 17 and 18 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, countries are encouraged to promote economically viable alternatives for tobacco workers and growers and to protect the environment and human health from the harms of tobacco cultivation.