More individuals in the UK are now turning to vaping rather than traditional smoking, marking a significant shift in smoking habits. According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of adults using e-cigarettes daily or occasionally has reached 5.4 million, surpassing the 4.9 million tobacco smokers. Notably, there has been a notable decline in smoking rates among young adults, with only 8.1% reported smoking in 2024, a substantial drop from 25.7% in 2011.
Hazel Cheeseman, the chief executive of anti-smoking charity ASH, emphasized the milestone reached, stating that more adults now choose to consume nicotine through vaping rather than tobacco, attributing the decline in smoking rates partly to the increasing popularity of vaping. However, concerns persist regarding non-smokers and young individuals taking up vaping.
Despite the overall trend towards vaping, there has been a slight decrease in the percentage of men using e-cigarettes in the past year, dropping from 11% in 2023 to 10.1% in 2024. Conversely, there has been an increase in women vaping, with 10% reported in 2024 compared to 8.5% the previous year.
Government efforts to restrict brightly colored and sweet-flavored disposable e-cigarettes aimed at children seem to be effective, as indicated by the data. The rise in younger individuals vaping has stalled, with the 16 to 24 age group showing a decrease in daily vaping from 6.9% to 6.1%. On the other hand, the 35 to 49 age group experienced the largest increase in vaping rates, rising from 6.8% in 2023 to 9.5% in 2024, with most vapers being current or former smokers.
Ms. Cheeseman highlighted the achievement of the UK in reducing smoking rates compared to European trends, attributing this success to long-term commitment to comprehensive tobacco control measures and smoking cessation support. However, she pointed out the challenges faced by the five million people still smoking, emphasizing the detrimental impact on both individuals and the economy, including the burden on the healthcare system.
Smoking continues to be the primary cause of preventable deaths in the UK, responsible for over 70,000 deaths annually. The usage of e-cigarettes, either daily or occasionally, remains highest among 16 to 24-year-olds in 2024 at 13.0%, though this is a decline from 15.8% in 2023. Individuals using e-cigarettes daily were predominantly in the 25-34 and 35-49 age groups, with rates increasing to 9.3% and 9.5%, respectively, in 2024.
The percentage of smokers in the UK has reached a historic low among individuals over 18, standing at 10.6%, a decrease of 0.5 percentage points from the previous year. Smoking rates vary across the UK nations, with England at 10.4%, Wales at 11.4%, Scotland at 12%, and Northern Ireland at 10.5%.
John Britton, Emeritus Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Nottingham, hailed the UK’s tobacco policy over the past 15 years, attributing the reduction in smoking prevalence to the transition to vaping, especially among the youth, which is expected to prevent premature deaths in the future.
The data comparing vaping and smoking rates were sourced from the ONS Opinion and Lifestyle Survey in Great Britain, while the official smoking rates in the UK are derived from the Annual Population Survey.