Latest figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal significant shifts in smoking and vaping patterns across the United Kingdom. The data shows that over one million adults who report never having tried a cigarette are now using e-cigarettes, representing an increase from approximately 940,000 in 2024. Additionally, the total number of vapers in the UK has reached 5.4 million, surpassing the 4.9 million cigarette smokers for the second consecutive year.
Age demographics show notable changes in vaping adoption. People aged 25 to 34 now represent the largest group of e-cigarette users, with 16.4% using them daily or occasionally, displacing the previously dominant 16 to 24-year-old cohort. An ONS representative noted that this shift may reflect existing users aging, increasing popularity among middle-aged adults, or a combination of factors.
Cigarette smoking continues its downward trajectory, dropping from 5.3 million smokers in 2024 to 4.9 million currently, bringing the proportion of adult smokers to approximately one in ten. Men remain more likely to smoke than women. Age groups show varied patterns, with those aged 45 to 54 accounting for the highest proportion of current smokers at 12.4%, while young adults aged 18 to 24 experienced the largest decline in smoking rates across all age groups.
Health authorities maintain that vaping presents fewer risks than smoking, though long-term effects remain unclear. The NHS advises that non-smokers and anyone under 18 should not vape. Looking ahead, new legislation set to take effect in the new year will permanently ban tobacco sales to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, aimed at creating a smoke-free generation.
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