People die, they earn: How much do tobacco companies make per year?

Every year, approximately 9 million people around the world die as a result of tobacco use. In addition, another 1.2 million non-smokers fall victim to secondhand smoke exposure. Tobacco products remain one of the most pervasive public health problems on the planet—and the industry's reach continues to grow, targeting younger and increasingly vulnerable populations. Tobacco has become such a vast and profitable business that the companies behind it have mastered a wide range of strategies to preserve and expand their market share.

People bet to quit or die: But how much does the tobacco industry earn?

According to international marketing analysts, a single smoker contributes between \$9,000 and \$15,000 in lifetime revenue to the world's largest tobacco companies. These figures illustrate the massive economic scale of the industry—and help explain why tobacco corporations are now concentrating their efforts on developing regions, especially in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

These regions are attractive for one main reason: their large, youthful populations. Young people represent long-term customers, making them a key target for the industry. Meanwhile, in many developed countries, growing public awareness, health consciousness, and strict legal restrictions have dramatically reduced tobacco consumption.

A report by IBISWorld projects that by 2025, the global tobacco industry will generate \$599.2 billion in revenue. While overall production volume has declined in many countries due to anti-smoking policies, companies have stabilized—and even grown—their profits by raising retail prices.

According to forecasts, the tobacco industry is expected to grow by 0.9% this year. However, due to ongoing countermeasures and awareness campaigns, the global market is likely to shrink over the next five years. For instance, in the past two decades alone, the number of smokers worldwide has fallen by 300 million.

Tobacco manufacturers have faced major challenges in recent years. These include heightened public awareness of health risks, tighter regulations, and increased taxation. Most major tobacco companies primarily operate in the wholesale trade, while retail is handled by shops and kiosks. However, some manufacturers are attempting to bypass middlemen in an effort to increase profit margins.

To minimize production costs, companies tend to operate close to tobacco-growing regions. The top tobacco-producing countries in the world include China, India, Brazil, and Indonesia—all of which offer favorable conditions for cultivation and lower labor costs.

Sweet taste, beautiful shape and box: Tobacco marketing tricks

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are more than 1 billion smokers worldwide, the majority of whom live in low- and middle-income countries.

While governments and health systems continue to battle tobacco use through policies and regulations, tobacco manufacturers are actively countering these efforts with aggressive marketing. Major brands are investing heavily in advertising strategies designed to appeal to younger consumers and secure a new generation of smokers.

According to WHO estimates, by 2022 at least 37 million adolescents aged 13 to 15 globally were using tobacco products in some form.

In light of this alarming trend, WHO used World No Tobacco Day—May 31—to call on governments to ban the use of sweeteners in all tobacco and nicotine products, including cigarettes, heated tobacco sticks, hookahs, and e-cigarettes.

Flavorings like menthol, chewing gum, and other sweeteners mask the bitter taste of tobacco and nicotine, making these products more attractive—especially to youth. These additives not only contribute to rising smoking rates among adolescents but also increase the risk of developing serious lung diseases.

“Sweet-flavored tobacco products are undoing decades of progress and are fueling a new wave of addiction,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Tobacco companies, eager to maintain profits and attract new users, continue to deploy a variety of marketing tricks, including:

Flavorings and aromas: These are used to disguise the harshness of tobacco, making the products more palatable and easier to inhale—particularly for beginners.

Targeted advertising: Eye-catching packaging, sleek product designs, and digital media campaigns help create a positive image of smoking and normalize it among young people.

Deceptive design: Some tobacco products are intentionally designed to resemble candies or toys, increasing their appeal to children and teenagers.

These tactics not only lure young people into starting smoking but also make it harder for them to quit—greatly increasing the risk of addiction and long-term health damage.

Uzbekistan joins regional efforts to ban e-cigarettes

On April 30, at the sixth plenary session of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, senators approved a new law titled “On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Further Strengthen Requirements for the Circulation of Certain Types of Tobacco Products, Tobacco and Nicotine Consumption Devices.”

The law introduces changes to the Criminal Code and the Code of Administrative Responsibility, establishing penalties for the production, acquisition, storage, transport, or sale of banned tobacco products and electronic nicotine delivery systems—including e-cigarettes and related liquids. It also criminalizes their import and export.

Importantly, the law includes a clause that exempts individuals from liability if they voluntarily report their illegal actions to the authorities and surrender the prohibited products.

Senators emphasized that the legislation is not only about punishment—it is a vital step toward protecting public health, preserving the genetic integrity of the population, and safeguarding the environment from emerging tobacco and nicotine products.

Uzbekistan is not alone in this move. Neighboring countries have already taken similar steps:

- In April 2023, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed amendments to the health legislation banning the import, production, and sale of e-cigarettes. The law came into effect in June 2023.
- In Kyrgyzstan, President Sadyr Japarov signed a similar law in November 2024 aimed at protecting public health from the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine products. This law will take effect on July 1, 2025.

Do Tashkent stores comply with the law when selling tobacco?

According to a recent survey by the Institute of Health and Strategic Development, 81 percent of retail outlets in Tashkent are violating laws related to the display of tobacco products. The study, which analyzed 120 stores across the capital—mostly kiosks and shops specializing in tobacco and alcohol—found that 93 percent of tobacco products sold were cigarettes, 84 percent were heated tobacco accessories, and 62 percent were electronic cigarettes.

Public health expert Shuhrat Shukurov noted that many of these stores display tobacco products on shelves highlighted with bright lights, promotional banners, and in some cases, on specially designated stands. In 17 percent of cases, advertisements promised discounts on tobacco products, while 5 percent of stores carried misleading claims that electronic cigarettes are less harmful.

But how should tobacco products be sold?

Like most countries, Uzbekistan has clear legal regulations regarding the sale of alcohol and tobacco. According to Article 21 of the Law “On Restrictions on the Distribution and Consumption of Alcohol and Tobacco Products,” it is strictly prohibited to sell tobacco products and nicotine consumption devices:

- By persons under the age of 21;
- In open consumer packaging (i.e., loose cigarettes or heated tobacco products sold by the box).

Despite this, the survey documented:

- Sales in open packaging in 4 percent of cases;
- Sales by individuals under 21 in 9 percent of cases;
- Sale of products without proper warnings or age restrictions in many cases.

Only 58 percent of stores displayed the mandatory “21+” sign, and just 16 percent had any kind of health warning signage.

Additionally, Article 40 of the Law “On Advertising” explicitly bans:

- All forms of advertising tobacco products;
- Promotional discounts or free giveaways;
- Sales or distribution of tobacco-themed items in the form of toys, children’s clothing, or candy;
- Placement of tobacco images or branding at shop entrances, exits, or anywhere easily visible to customers.

Despite years of warnings and visual campaigns showing the devastating health consequences of tobacco use—including photos of diseased organs and infants affected by smoking—many still purchase and consume these products daily.

The persistence of such behavior, even in the face of overwhelming medical and legal evidence, points to a deeper issue: the battle against tobacco is not only legal and medical—it is also moral.

While global efforts to curb tobacco use continue, true change begins with individual willpower and a sense of responsibility.