Tobacco use in Myanmar claims the lives of approximately 64,000 citizens per year, with 56 percent of deaths occurring among individuals younger than 70. In 2016, tobacco use cost the Myanmar economy MMK 2.6 trillion, equivalent to 3.3% of its GDP. Tobacco-related healthcare expenditures totaled MMK 307 billion. In addition, the economy lost MMK 2.3 trillion in indirect productivity costs due to tobacco-attributable premature mortality, disability, and workplace smoking.

Over the next 15 years, implementing five WHO FCTC interventions would save 255,000 lives and reduce the incidence of disease, and lead to MMK 962 billion in savings through avoidance of tobacco-attributable healthcare expenditures. The measures would further provide economic benefits (MMK 8.0 trillion) that significantly outweigh the costs (MMK 35.7 billion). Raising cigarette taxes has the highest ROI of 1,057 kyat for every kyat spent.

This tobacco control investment case was developed jointly by UNDP, the WHO FCTC Secretariat, WHO and the Ministry of Health as part of the FCTC 2030 project.