UK Vaping Rates Rise Among Never-Smokers, Overtaking Cigarettes
New data shows over a million UK adults who have never smoked are now vapers, as e-cigarette use surpasses traditional smoking for the first time.
In the United Kingdom, the number of adults who have never smoked but now use e-cigarettes has surpassed one million, according to the latest data for 2025. This figure represents an increase from approximately 940,000 in the previous year. For the second consecutive year, vaping among individuals over 16 now exceeds cigarette smoking.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that 5.4 million people over 16 are now using vapes or e-cigarettes, compared to 4.9 million who smoke traditional cigarettes, a decrease from 5.3 million in 2024. The number of current smokers in the UK has fallen to nearly one in ten adults.
Shifting Demographics in Vaping
Younger adults, specifically those aged 25 to 35, are now the most frequent users of e-cigarettes, surpassing the 16 to 24 age group. Approximately 16.4% of individuals in the 25-35 age bracket report vaping daily or occasionally. The ONS noted that this demographic shift might be due to existing users aging or an increase in vaping popularity within this age group, or a combination of both.
Public Health and Legislation
Experts suggest that the decline in cigarette smoking is linked to increased awareness of tobacco's harmful effects and successful quitting efforts. While vaping is considered less harmful than smoking, the long-term health consequences are still under investigation by health authorities like the NHS.
The percentage of people who have never used an e-cigarette has seen a slight decrease, falling to 83.0% in 2025 from 83.4% in 2024. Concurrently, 7.2% of people reported using an e-cigarette in 2025, up from 6.6% the prior year.
Towards a Smoke-Free Generation
New legislation in the UK, set to take effect in the new year, aims to create a "smoke-free" generation by permanently banning the legal sale of tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. Health organizations like Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) view the latest statistics as encouraging progress in reducing smoking rates, with calls to "finish the job" of eliminating smoking as a public health driver.
Further ONS data indicates that men remain more likely to smoke than women. The highest proportion of current smokers was observed in the 45-54 age group, at 12.4%. Conversely, young adults aged 18 to 24 have experienced the most significant reduction in smoking rates across all age demographics. Among current smokers in 2025, half reported an intention to quit.