Vaping overtakes smoking in Britain for first time

Vaping is more popular than smoking in Britain for the first time, according to newly-published data. 

Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures for 2024 show 10% (around five million people) of those aged 16 and over in Great Britain said they were vape or e-cigarette users while 9.1% (4.9 million) were cigarette smokers. 

In the UK overall, around 5.3 million people aged 18 and over smoked cigarettes in 2024 – the lowest proportion of current smokers since data collection began in 2011. 

The proportion of 18- to 24-year-olds who smoked overall reduced by more than two-thirds between 2011 and 2024, from 25.7% of the population to 8.1%. 

Meanwhile, those aged between 25 and 34 continued to smoke both cigarettes and e-cigarettes at a higher rate than other age groups – with 9.5% smoking e-cigarettes ‘daily’ and 12.6% smoking overall. 

The figures for smokers in Great Britain are taken the ONS’ Opinions and Lifestyle Survey, while the whole-UK figures are from its Annual Population Survey. 

ONS head of mortality statistics David Mais said the figures were ‘in line with the long term trend of fewer people smoking cigarettes over the past decade.’ 

Professor John Britton, emeritus professor of epidemiology at the University of Nottingham, said the findings ‘vindicate’ health policy towards cigarette smoking. 

He said: ‘These figures vindicate UK tobacco policy over the past 15 years, with the transition to vaping leading to unprecedented reductions in smoking prevalence, especially among young people. This process will prevent millions of premature deaths in the coming decades. 

Last year, the Government introduced ‘historic’ legislation to ‘create a smokefree generation’ by banning the sale of tobacco products across the UK to anyone aged 15 or younger this year.  

Legislation for this same ban was first introduced under the previous Conservative Government but did not progress after the election was called, with Labour confirming over the summer that it will proceed with similar laws. 

A ban on single-use vapes was announced by the Government last year and came into effect on 1 June 2025, in a bid to make vaping less accessible to children.

Despite the new figures, statistics released earlier this year which looked at data from 2006 to 2024 showed the UK Government’s target for smoking prevalence to be below 5% by 2030 is still unlikely to be met.