Share Story
AMMAN – Over half of Jordanians aged 15 and older, numbering around 2.8 million, use tobacco in various forms, according to a new report by the Higher Population Council (HPC).
The findings, released Saturday to mark World No Tobacco Day, reveal that 53 per cent of Jordanians over the age of 15 consume tobacco, with men accounting for 71 per cent of users and women 29 per cent.
According to the report, cited by the government-owned Al Mamlaka TV, 83 per cent of tobacco users began smoking before age 24, and 38 per cent before age 18.
On average, HPC said, smokers consume 22 cigarettes per day, with widespread smoking observed in public places despite laws prohibiting the practice.
According to the council, the average monthly spending on manufactured cigarettes reaches JD78 per individual. Additional costs include JD14 for heated tobacco devices, JD24 for heating sticks, and JD35 for e-cigarettes.
“For low-income households with multiple smokers, this financial burden severely impacts spending on essential needs such as food, healthcare, education, and even transport to work,” the report said.
The report said that a total of 10,755 cancer cases were recorded in Jordan in 2022, with 8,754 among Jordanians. “The most common cancers were breast, colorectal, lung, lymphatic, and bladder cancer. At least three of these are strongly linked to tobacco use.”
Health Minister Feras Hawari was quoted in the report as saying that cancer cases in Jordan have risen by 40 per cent since 2015, with smoking the primary driver.