Lebanon Tops Global Cigar Spending Despite Severe Economic Crisis

Lebanon, mired in its worst financial crisis on record, has emerged as the world’s leading spender on cigars, according to a study released by data analysis firm Statista on May 31.

In 2022, per capita spending on cigars in Lebanon was $36.70, surpassing the US at $35.60, Qatar at $27.50, Luxembourg at $20.20, and Iceland at $15.10. The results are startling given the financial turbulence in Lebanon that has pushed over 80% of the populace into poverty.

Ali Assaf, managing director at cigar importing company La Cubana, attributed high cigar consumption to a considerable population earning in US dollars, thus mitigating the impact of the local currency’s depreciation. He also pointed to the permissive smoking culture in Lebanon as a factor that helps to drive consumption.

The taste for luxury and sophistication among Lebanese, despite the economic hardship, fuels this cigar consumption, said Najat Abdo, CEO of HandRolled, a Lebanese cigar importer, and distributor. Other contributing factors, Abdo noted, include historically low custom rates and pandemic-induced lifestyle changes that led to increased cigar smoking.