It is impossible to overstate the advantages of tobacco-free people in African countries. The benefits of tobacco control extend far beyond personal health, including increased productivity, decreased healthcare costs, improved public health outcomes, and environmental benefits. Tobacco usage is a leading source of numerous health problems in Africa and around the world.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 1.25 billion adults globally use tobacco products. Fortunately, the WHO reports that tobacco consumption rates are continuing to drop over the world.
In recent years, there has been an increasing understanding of tobacco’s negative consequences on both individuals and society as a whole.
This is especially important in African countries, where tobacco-related health disorders place a major pressure on already overburdened healthcare systems. Despite this worldwide concern, numerous African countries have made substantial progress in reducing tobacco usage within their borders.
According to the World Health Organization’s “WHO Global Report on Trends in Prevalence of Tobacco Use 2000-2030,” 150 nations are successfully lowering tobacco use.
“Good progress has been made in tobacco control in recent years, but there is no time to relax. Dr. Ruediger Krech, Director of the WHO Department of Health Promotion, expresses surprise at the tobacco industry’s willingness to prioritize profits over lives.
With increasing awareness of the consequences of heavy tobacco use, these are the ten African countries with the lowest tobacco use rates.
| Rank | Country | WHO’s estimated number of current tobacco users (thousands) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Sao Tome and Principe | 10 |
| 2. | Seychelles | 17 |
| 3. | Cabo Verde | 45 |
| 4. | Djibouti | 52 |
| 5. | Eswatini | 67 |
| 6. | Comoros | 82 |
| 7. | Guinea-Bissau | 91 |
| 8. | Equatorial Guinea | 128 |
| 9. | Eritrea | 138 |
| 10. | Gabon | 181 |