Tobacco-leaf production is declining globally but rising in Africa, according to a new analysis released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 31 August 2026. The findings raise concerns for health, farmer livelihoods, the environment, and sustainable development. Between 2012 and 2024, global tobacco-leaf production fell by nearly 19%, while production in Africa increased by almost 9%. Over the same period, Africa’s cigarette imports more than doubled, rising from US$ 833 million to US$ 1.77 billion. The pattern shows African countries producing and exporting more raw tobacco leaf while spending significantly more on manufactured cigarettes.
Africa accounted for around 11% of global tobacco-leaf production in 2024, producing more than 639,000 tonnes of tobacco leaf. Production is highly concentrated on the continent, with five countries generating the large majority of output. These are Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique, and Uganda, in descending order. East Africa alone accounts for nearly 90% of African tobacco-leaf production. Tobacco-leaf exports exceed 1% of GDP in only a small number of economies, such as Zimbabwe and Malawi.
Tobacco cultivation continues to consume land, water, and natural resources that could otherwise support food production and sustainable livelihoods. The activity is associated with soil degradation, pesticide exposure, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emissions from the curing process. Farmers also face direct health risks, including green tobacco sickness caused by nicotine absorbed through the skin when handling wet tobacco leaves. Workers are further exposed 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.
“This is not just a tobacco-control issue. It is a health, trade, development and environmental issue,” said Dr Vinayak Prasad, Head of the Tobacco Free Initiative at WHO.
He noted that tobacco farming exposes workers and families to serious health risks, damages the environment, and can trap farmers in cycles of debt. At the same time, African economies are spending more on imported cigarettes that fuel addiction, disease, and premature death. The analysis also challenges the argument that tobacco is economically indispensable for most countries.
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. WHO calls for stronger support to countries seeking to diversify away from tobacco production. It also urges measures to protect farming communities and strengthen tobacco-control policies.
“Countries need support to move away from economic dependence on a product that harms health, farmers and the environment,” Dr Prasad said.
He added that trade and development policies must be aligned with public health and sustainable development goals.