Vaping Now More Common Than Smoking in the UK

As vaping continues to grow while cigarette smoking declines, more than one million individuals in the UK who have never smoked are now using e-cigarettes.

Key points

• While residents aged 45 to 54 had the highest smoking rate at 12.4 percent, men remained more probable to smoke than women in 2025.
• The proportion of individuals who had never employed an e-cigarette additionally fell slightly to 83 percent in 2025 from 83.4 percent a year earlier.
• Individuals aged 25 to 34 are now more probable to vape than any other age group, overtaking those aged 16 to 24.
• The figures come ahead of new UK legislation that will permanently ban the legal sale of tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009.
• The shift comes as vaping overtakes smoking for the second consecutive year among individuals aged 16 and over.

For context, the latest 2025 data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) demonstrates the number of never-smokers who vape has risen from around 940, 000 in 2024 to concerning 1.1 million. Pakistan Among Worst Hit by Climate Change.

Individuals aged 25 to 34 are now more probable to vape than any other age group, overtaking those aged 16 to 24. Around 16.4 percent of individuals in this age group apply e-cigarettes either daily or occasionally.

Meanwhile, the shift comes as vaping overtakes smoking for the second consecutive year among individuals aged 16 and over. While the number of smokers has fallen to 4.9 million, down from 5.3 million in 2024, around 5.4 million individuals now vape.

For context, the proportion of individuals who had never employed an e-cigarette additionally fell slightly to 83 percent in 2025 from 83.4 percent a year earlier. Overall e-cigarette employ climbed to 7.2 percent from 6.6 percent in 2024.

ONS official remarked the age profile of vapers appears to be shifting upward. It could reflect existing users getting older, climbed popularity among individuals aged 25 to 34, or a combination of both. Smoking Increases Among Pakistani Women: Gallup.

Meanwhile, smoking continues to decline throughout the UK. While residents aged 45 to 54 had the highest smoking rate at 12.4 percent, men remained more probable to smoke than women in 2025. While half of current smokers remarked they intended to quit, those aged 18 to 24 recorded the biggest fall in smoking among all age groups.

Although its long-term effects remain unclear, the NHS notes vaping is less harmful than smoking. It advises non-smokers and individuals aged 17 and under not to vape.

Notably, the figures come ahead of new UK legislation that will permanently ban the legal sale of tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. The measure is aimed at creating a smoke-free generation. Stay Connected with ProPakistani. Obtain the latest international news and global stories wherever you prefer. Follow on Google Discover. Follow on Google News Join WhatsApp. See more ProPakistani stories in Google Search and Top Stories.

For now, vaping Now More Common Than Smoking in the UK remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.