UK Smoking Rates Decline, But Disparities Persist

Official figures reveal that fewer than one in ten adults in the UK now smoke cigarettes, marking a record low and reflecting the government's efforts to create a 'smoke-free generation.' However, smoking rates remain concentrated in older and more deprived communities, with a core group of smokers proving harder to reach.

The latest report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) indicates that smoking prevalence is highest among individuals aged 45 to 54. Notably, for men in this age group, smoking rates increased from approximately 12% in 2020 to 14.7% in 2025, moving against the national downward trend.

Experts attribute this trend to barriers faced by individuals in deprived communities when attempting to quit, including reduced access to stop-smoking services. This divide is particularly evident in parts of northern England. Cities such as Blackpool and Kingston upon Hull report nearly a fifth (19.5%) of adults smoking, double the national average. Smoking prevalence in Greater Manchester also remains significantly above the national average.

In stark contrast, affluent southern districts exhibit some of the lowest smoking rates. Woking, Surrey, has a smoking rate of just 3%, while the neighboring Mole Valley reports a mere 1.3%.

Further analysis shows that more than one in six unemployed adults admitted to smoking in 2025. Rates are also persistently high among those working in manual labor jobs, compared to fewer than 6% of individuals in professional occupations.

Public health experts warn that persistently high smoking rates in more deprived areas could delay England's smoke-free target until 2037, seven years later than initially hoped. Projections suggest that even when the target is met, the poorest populations will still be four times more likely to use tobacco than the wealthiest.

Charities, including Cancer Research UK, are urging the government to increase funding for public information campaigns and stop-smoking services, particularly in deprived areas, to accelerate the shift away from smoking. Philip Morris managing director Peter Nixon stated that the UK's tobacco policy is 'leaving Northern communities behind, deepening the North-South divide.' He called for evidence-based policy decisions and robust product standards to help smokers switch to alternative products.

Public health officials continue to promote vaping as a less harmful alternative to smoking, emphasizing its use as a tool for quitting. However, concerns exist that measures intended to protect public health, such as outdoor smoking bans and stop-smoking campaigns, are not being implemented equitably across the country. There is also apprehension that increased costs for vaping, due to a new levy that raises the annual expense by nearly £600, may deter smokers, many of whom are economically inactive, from attempting to quit.

Evidence indicates that while vaping is not without risks, it exposes users to significantly fewer toxic, cancer-causing chemicals compared to smoking tobacco. Hazel Cheeseman, chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, commented that for smokers, such measures have real consequences and that vaping needs to remain considerably cheaper than smoking to avoid price becoming a barrier for cessation.

Official statistics indicate that for the second consecutive year, more people are vaping than smoking, with 5.4 million vapers compared to 4.8 million smokers nationwide. The 25 to 34 age group is now the most likely to vape, with approximately 16% using e-cigarettes daily or occasionally. The ONS also reported that over one million Britons who have never smoked cigarettes are now vaping, a trend that has nearly doubled since 2021 and is viewed by experts as concerning.