Over a Million Never-Smokers in UK Now Vape as E-Cigarette Use Overtakes Cigarettes for Second Year

More than one million adults in the United Kingdom who report having never smoked a cigarette are now using e-cigarettes, according to newly released data for 2025. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show that approximately 1.1 million people who have never tried tobacco are vaping either daily or occasionally, marking a rise from roughly 940,000 recorded in 2024. The finding underscores a significant shift in nicotine consumption patterns across the country, where vaping is increasingly attracting individuals with no history of traditional smoking.

For the second consecutive year, the number of people over the age of 16 who use vapes or e-cigarettes has surpassed the number who smoke cigarettes. ONS data puts the vaping population at 5.4 million, compared with 4.9 million smokers. This continues a downward trajectory for smoking, which now accounts for nearly one in ten adults in the UK—a notable decline from 5.3 million smokers in 2024. The crossover between the two habits signals a changing landscape in public health and consumer behaviour, with e-cigarettes cementing their position as the more popular choice among adults.

The data also reveals a demographic shift in who is vaping. People aged 25 to 35 are now the most likely age group to use e-cigarettes, overtaking 16 to 24-year-olds for the first time. Among this older cohort, 16.4% report vaping daily or occasionally. David Mais, from the ONS, commented on the trend, noting that vapers appear to be getting older. He suggested this could reflect existing users ageing into the bracket, growing popularity among this age group, or a combination of both factors. The shift challenges the common perception that vaping is predominantly a youth phenomenon.

Meanwhile, smoking prevalence varies across different segments of the population. Men were more likely to smoke than women in 2025, a pattern consistent with previous years. The highest proportion of current smokers was found among those aged 45 to 54, at 12.4%, highlighting that tobacco use remains concentrated in middle age despite overall declines. Young adults aged 18 to 24 have experienced the largest drop in smoking among all age groups, suggesting that tobacco control measures and changing social norms are having a particular impact on younger generations.

The ONS also reported that the percentage of people who have never used an e-cigarette continued to fall, from 83.4% in 2024 to 83.0% in 2025. While the vast majority of the population still has no experience with vaping, the gradual erosion of this figure indicates that e-cigarettes are becoming more widespread. Additionally, 7.2% of respondents said they had used an e-cigarette at some point, up from 6.6% the previous year. Of those who currently smoke, half expressed an intention to quit, pointing to a continued desire among smokers to break the habit and potentially turning to vaping as a cessation tool.

Health experts maintain that vaping is less harmful than smoking traditional cigarettes, although the long-term health effects remain unclear. The NHS advises that non-smokers and individuals aged 17 and under should never vape. This guidance is particularly relevant given the rising number of never-smokers taking up e-cigarettes, as it raises questions about whether individuals who would not have otherwise used nicotine are now becoming dependent on it. The trend has prompted calls for continued monitoring and public health messaging to ensure that vaping does not become a gateway to nicotine addiction for those who never smoked.

The popularity of cigarette smoking has steadily decreased over recent decades as awareness of tobacco's harmful effects has grown. This has encouraged many to quit or switch to less harmful alternatives. Public health campaigns, smoking bans, and taxation have all contributed to the decline. However, smoking remains a leading cause of preventable death in the UK. Hazel Cheeseman, from the charity Action on Smoking and Health, described the latest statistics as encouraging progress in cutting smoking rates but emphasised that the job is not finished. She noted that while smoking has fallen enormously, it continues to be the biggest driver of preventable mortality, adding that now is the time to complete the task.

A major legislative development is set to reshape the tobacco landscape further. New legislation in the UK, due to take effect in the new year, will permanently ban the legal sale of tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. The measure aims to create a "smoke-free" generation by ensuring that young people growing up today will never be able to legally purchase cigarettes. This progressive policy is expected to accelerate the decline in smoking rates and further marginalise tobacco use among future generations, while also raising questions about how vaping will be regulated in parallel.

The rise in vaping among never-smokers and the ageing profile of vapers present both opportunities and challenges for public health. On one hand, e-cigarettes have helped many smokers quit a far more dangerous habit. On the other hand, the growing number of people using nicotine products who might otherwise have avoided them entirely raises concerns about addiction and long-term health outcomes. The ONS data for 2025 provides a snapshot of a nation in transition, where traditional smoking is fading but new forms of nicotine use are becoming more entrenched across diverse age groups.

As the UK moves toward its smoke-free generation goal, the interplay between tobacco and vaping will remain a central issue for policymakers, health professionals, and consumers alike. The latest figures highlight the need for balanced regulation that discourages smoking without inadvertently promoting vaping among those who would never have smoked. With over a million never-smokers now vaping and overall e-cigarette use surpassing smoking for the second year in a row, the data signals a profound shift in how people in the UK consume nicotine—one that will shape public health strategy for years to come.