According to population estimates for 2016, 20.2 percent of over 15s in Egypt are smokers, which is equal to 12.6 million, the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) announced. According to the report, 23.8 percent of 25 to 44-year-olds are smokers. Education levels also show a disparity: 31.5 percent of adult smokers hold a beginner education certification, while the ratio of smokers among university students and graduates is 14.5 percent, according to the CAPMAS report. Despite women smoking far less than men, about 11.5 million women are exposed to secondhand smoke in their households. The average annual expenditure on cigarettes a year by an Egyptian family is LE3,968, according to the respondents included in the CAPMAS survey.

Source: Egypt Independent May 30, 2017 12:22 UTC