Even in middle age smokers who stop before they have serious disease avoid most of their risk of death from tobacco and stopping before middle age is even better. The World Bank sees tobacco as a particularly difficult development challenge, with annual deaths from tobacco expected to increase significantly over the next three decades. Seven in ten of these deaths will be in developing countries, and half of tobacco deaths will occur during people s productive middle lives, age 35-69, with an average loss of 20 to 25 years of life. The World Bank recognizes the harmful health and economic effects of tobacco use globally, and, since 1991, the Bank s formal policy is not to lend for tobacco production, processing, or marketing. The Bank encourages governments to control tobacco and to reduce or minimize the tobacco epidemic with some simple but very effective interventions.
Tobacco control requires a multi-sectoral approach.
When working with governments on these issues, the Bank includes representatives from various government departments such as the Ministries of Finance, Agriculture, and Health. The Bank provides technical and policy assistance on tobacco issues through lending and analytical work in partnership with the World Health Organization and other organizations. The Bank increasingly recognizes that social dimensions of development are critical. The World Bank s Policy on Tobacco 1. The World Bank does not lend directly for, invest in, or guarantee investments or loans for tobacco production, processing, or marketing.