Egypt’s young and vibrant population has the potential to play a pivotal role in the digital transformation initiative of the Arab Republic. Adolescents and youth account for about one-third of the over 100 million Egyptian population, providing a potentially favourable demographic for rapid digital development. The Egyptian government recognises this potential and is introducing strategies and developments to realise a “D igital Egypt”. For example, the Information and Communication Technology Strategy 2030 ( ICT 2030) is expected to focus on improving public service delivery through e-governance initiatives, developing capacity and digital literacy, and improving research and innovation by encouraging collaborative efforts by public and private organisations. ICT is recognised as the fastest-growing sector in Egypt and contributed about 5.8 percent to GDP in the past year. Although these are steps in the right direction, more work needs to be done for digital development to reach the desired state in Egypt.

Smoking causes more than 1 in 10 cardiovascular deaths globally. Smoking is the leading preventable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as ischemic heart disease (IHD), which narrows heart arteries, and cerebrovascular diseases. However, awareness of links between smoking and cardiovascular disease remains low in many parts of the world, including Africa. Supporting better tobacco control policy design and execution, the Tobacco Control Data Initiative (TCDI) seeks to increase access to country-specific tobacco control data for governments, civil society, and academia. The six country-specific TCDI websites provide stakeholders with data that will inform better tobacco control policy design and implementation through comprehensive primary and secondary research.  
In this blog post, we discuss the heart-related implications of tobacco usage with emphasis on their health and economic impacts in South Africa, Zambia, Ethiopia, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Nigeria.

South Africa
Health Impact: According to the Global Burden of Disease Study (2021), over 32,000 people in South Africa died from tobacco-related illnesses (TRIs), including cardiovascular disease (see Figure 1 below). Cardiovascular diseases, such as ischemic heart diseases, hypertensive diseases, and other forms of heart disease, account for 22% of the country's total TRI deaths. Additionally, tobacco use contributed to 13% of non-communicable disease (NCD) deaths in the country.

Figure 1

Economic Impact: In 2016, the cost of tobacco-related diseases in South Africa was estimated at 42 billion Rand (USD 2.88 billion). Of this, 28 billion Rand (USD 1.58 billion) was attributed to lost productivity, while 14 billion Rand (USD 790.07 million) went to direct healthcare expenses.

Zambia

Health Impact: According to a 2019 UNDP report, tobacco consumption in Zambia caused approximately 7,100 deaths annually . The top three causes of tobacco-related deaths were lower respiratory infections (1,839 deaths), ischemic heart disease (1,629 deaths), and tuberculosis (1,032 deaths). Other cardiovascular diseases contributed to 373 deaths.

Figure 2

Source: UNDP/Ministry of Health (Zambia). 

Source: UNDP/Ministry of Health (Zambia)

Economic Impact: In 2016, Zambia's health expenditure on tobacco-related illnesses amounted to ZMW 154.3 million (US$ 9 million). Out-of-pocket expenses stood at ZMW 42.5 million (US$ 2.5 million), while private insurance covered ZMW 37.6 million (US$ 2.2 million). Additionally, indirect costs, including productivity losses and premature death, were estimated at ZMW 1.4 billion (US$ 82 million).

Kenya

Health Impact: According to a TCDI study in Kenya, cardiovascular disease accounted for 9% of all deaths associated with tobacco use, while 33% of those who had myocardial infarction (heart attack) had a history of tobacco use.

Economic Impact: In 2021, tobacco-related illnesses, including myocardial infarction, led to economic losses between US$544.4 million and US$756.2 million. Myocardial infarction alone accounted for $171.43 to US$233.06 million, primarily due to healthcare costs and lost productivity.

Nigeria

Health Impact: The Global Burden of Disease report for 2021 attributed 29,605.1 deaths in Nigeria to tobacco-related illnesses. In the same year, smoking was associated with cardiovascular disease and ischemic heart disease deaths, resulting in approximately 4,806.55 and 2,794.32 deaths, respectively.

Economic Impact:  In Nigeria, tobacco-related CVDs cost approximately N273 million (US$ 890.1 thousand), and the National Tobacco Control Act has been implemented to reduce tobacco's impact on IHD, especially in light of rising shisha use among younger demographics.

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

Health Impact: Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes are major health challenges in the DRC.  The GBD 2021 report estimated that there were 4725 deaths from tobacco-related cardiovascular diseases and 2579 deaths from ischemic heart diseases. In the DRC, the mortality rate due to smoking in 2019 was estimated at 4.05%. 

Economic Impact: Tobacco-related illnesses, such as cardiovascular diseases, have imposed significant economic burdens on the DRC. Between 2019 and 2021, budget allocations for the health sector reached 165.54% in 2020, yet households continue to bear a substantial portion of health costs. While tobacco taxes are collected, none are allocated to public health, violating the "polluter pays" principle and exacerbating economic strain on health systems.

Ethiopia

Health Impact: Tobacco use contributes to 5% of all non-communicable disease (NCD) deaths in Ethiopia, with 29% of these deaths attributed to cardiovascular diseases, as reported by the Global Burden of Disease (2021). Additionally, the estimate reveals that in 2021, tobacco was responsible for 1.14% of all deaths and accounted for 0.8% of years of life lost. According to Tobacco Atlas (2023), tobacco use is responsible for over 9,884 deaths annually in Ethiopia. 

Economic Impact: Tobacco places a heavy economic burden on Ethiopia, costing around 1.391 billion Ethiopian Birr (US$43.6 million) each year due to healthcare expenses and lost productivity (WHO, 2020). Additionally, smokers spend about 11.7% of their income on cigarettes, depriving them of resources that could otherwise help reduce poverty. 

The significant burden of non-communicable diseases, especially cardiovascular diseases, is evident across these nations, with tobacco-related deaths disproportionately affecting men. The economic costs, both direct and indirect, from healthcare expenses to lost productivity strain already fragile healthcare systems. Furthermore, environmental degradation linked to tobacco production exacerbates the long-term impacts on these emerging economies. Addressing the tobacco epidemic through stronger regulatory frameworks, public health campaigns, and sustainable alternatives is crucial to mitigating these multifaceted consequences and promoting healthier, more resilient societies.

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This brief examines the potential impact of a minimum wage increase in Nigeria, taking into account the current economic state and the factors driving inflation. It also provides a minimum wage recommendation to guide the government and labor unions in reaching a realistic minimum wage.

There is a consensus among policymakers in Africa that high unemployment, especially among youth, is a major impediment to inclusive growth. A recent Afrobarometer survey (Round 9) underscores this concern, revealing that 40 percent of African youth identify unemployment as the primary issue that governments should address. In response, regional and national policies, such as the Job for Youth in Africa program (2016-2025), have been designed to tackle the unemployment problem. However, labor statistics on the continent indicate a more complex situation, where the quality of jobs is a greater concern than their quantity. Quality or decent jobs refers to employment that is "fair, dignified, stable, and secure", as opposed to vulnerable employment. Current estimates place the unemployment rate on the continent at 11.6%, while vulnerable employment reaches as high as 80% in several countries.

This brief was written by Adedeji Adenira PhD , Chukwuma Nwofor and Halimat Abdulrazaq

Data governance has emerged as a central tenet for countries, not only to realise the benefits of digital revolution but also to mitigate the growing risks and threats that emanate from the digital space. Over the last decade, the number of African countries with at least a form of data protection/regulation policy has increased from 12 in 2012 to 36 in 2024. However, the national approach to data governance has its limits, particularly in African countries with low digital development and a high dominance of global digital platform firms.