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Recent data from the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals a significant rise in vaping among individuals who have never smoked cigarettes. In 2025, over one million people reported vaping either daily or occasionally, an increase from approximately 940,000 in 2024. Notably, the highest proportion of vapers is now within the 25 to 35 age group, with 16.4% using e-cigarettes, surpassing the younger 16 to 24-year-olds.
This shift marks the second consecutive year that vaping has become more common than smoking among those aged 16 and over. The number of adults who smoke continues to decline, now accounting for roughly one in ten people (4.9 million) compared to 5.3 million in 2024. Meanwhile, the total number of vapers exceeds that of smokers, reaching 5.4 million individuals.
Health experts attribute the decline in cigarette use to increased awareness of tobacco’s harmful effects, which has motivated many to quit smoking. The NHS recognizes that while vaping is less harmful than smoking, the long-term health consequences remain uncertain. It specifically advises that non-smokers and individuals aged 17 and under should avoid vaping altogether. The ONS findings also indicate a slight decrease in the proportion of people who have never tried e-cigarettes—from 83.4% in 2024 to 83.0% in 2025. David Mais of the ONS notes that vapers are trending older, suggesting that this may result from current vapers aging, growing acceptance among the 25-34 age group, or both.
Looking ahead, new legislation set to take effect in the UK will ban the sale of tobacco products to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. This law aims to establish a “smoke-free” generation. Hazel Cheeseman of Action on Smoking and Health views this development positively, emphasizing the ongoing yet encouraging decline in smoking rates. She remarked, “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.”
The ONS also highlights demographic trends in smoking habits: men continue to smoke more than women, consistent with past years, and the highest smoking rates are observed among those aged 45 to 54, at 12.4%. Young adults aged 18 to 24 have experienced the largest reductions in smoking. Among current smokers in 2025, half expressed intentions to quit, and e-cigarette use rose to 7.2% from 6.6% the previous year
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