Vaping Overtakes Smoking in UK as Over a Million Never-Smokers Take Up E-Cigarettes

New figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveal a striking shift in UK nicotine habits, with more than one million people who have never smoked a cigarette now regularly using vapes. The data, covering 2025, shows that approximately 1.1 million never-smokers vape either daily or occasionally, a notable increase from the roughly 940,000 recorded in the previous year.

For the second consecutive year, e-cigarette use has outpaced traditional smoking among people aged 16 and over. The ONS reports that 5.4 million people in this age group now vape, compared with 4.9 million who smoke cigarettes. This marks a continuing decline in smoking rates, which have now fallen to nearly one in ten adults in the UK.

Perhaps the most significant demographic shift is among young adults. People aged 25 to 35 have overtaken 16 to 24-year-olds as the most frequent vapers, with 16.4% of this older age group using e-cigarettes daily or occasionally. David Mais, from the ONS, noted that the vaping population appears to be ageing, which "may reflect existing users getting older, growing popularity among this age group, or a combination of both."

The data also shows a steady decrease in the proportion of people who have never tried an e-cigarette, falling from 83.4% in 2024 to 83.0% in 2025. Meanwhile, 7.2% of respondents reported having used an e-cigarette, up from 6.6% the previous year. Among current smokers, half expressed an intention to quit, suggesting that many are actively seeking alternatives to tobacco.

Smoking rates have been declining for decades, driven largely by growing awareness of the severe health risks associated with tobacco. Experts attribute this trend to public health campaigns, stricter regulations, and the increasing popularity of vaping as a cessation tool. Hazel Cheeseman, from the charity Action on Smoking and Health, described the latest statistics as "encouraging progress" in cutting smoking rates. She added: "Smoking has fallen enormously over recent decades, but it remains the biggest driver of preventable death in the UK. Now is the time to finish the job."

While vaping is considered less harmful than smoking, the NHS cautions that its long-term effects remain unclear. The health service explicitly advises non-smokers and anyone aged 17 or under never to vape. This guidance is particularly relevant given the rising number of never-smokers taking up the habit, sparking concerns among public health officials about a new generation becoming dependent on nicotine.

The ONS data also highlights gender and age disparities in smoking habits. Men were more likely to smoke than women in 2025, consistent with patterns from previous years. The highest proportion of current smokers was found among people aged 45 to 54, at 12.4%. In contrast, young adults aged 18 to 24 experienced the largest drop in smoking rates across all age groups, suggesting that tobacco use is becoming increasingly concentrated among older demographics.

The UK government is taking decisive action to further reduce smoking rates with new legislation set to take effect in the new year. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill will permanently ban the legal sale of tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009, a move designed to create a "smoke-free" generation. This progressive policy aims to phase out smoking entirely by preventing young people from ever legally purchasing cigarettes.

The rise in vaping among never-smokers has prompted debates about whether e-cigarettes should be treated primarily as a harm-reduction tool for smokers or as a recreational product with its own risks. While vaping does not produce the tar and numerous carcinogens found in combustible tobacco, it still delivers nicotine, which is highly addictive. Health experts worry that the growing normalisation of vaping could lead to long-term nicotine dependence among people who might otherwise have avoided both smoking and vaping.

The ONS findings also underscore the changing landscape of nicotine consumption in the UK. With vaping now more common than smoking, the public health narrative is shifting from a singular focus on tobacco control to a more nuanced discussion about the role of e-cigarettes. Some experts argue that vaping has been instrumental in helping millions of smokers quit, while others caution that the appeal of sleek devices and fruity flavours may be drawing in young people who have never smoked.

As the government prepares to implement its smoke-free generation policy, the challenge will be to balance the benefits of vaping as a cessation aid with the risks of uptake among non-smokers. The coming years will be crucial in determining whether the rise in vaping among never-smokers represents a temporary trend or a lasting shift in the UK's relationship with nicotine. For now, the ONS data paints a clear picture: vaping has firmly established itself as the dominant form of nicotine use in the country, and its popularity shows no signs of waning.