Million non-smokers now vape daily or occasionally across Great Britain
Office for National Statistics data shows 1.1 million people in Great Britain used e-cigarettes despite never smoking regular cigarettes in 2025.
Total usage numbers rise sharply
About 5.4 million adults aged 16 and over in England, Scotland and Wales used e-cigarettes daily or occasionally last year. This represents a 9.9% share of the adult population in those nations. The total count for non-smokers using vapes reached 1.1 million, up from 940,000 recorded in 2024.
Never-smoker rates nearly double
The proportion of people who had never smoked regular cigarettes but used e-cigarettes increased almost twice as much since 2021. In 2021, only 1.5% of non-smokers reported current vaping use compared to 2.9% in the latest figures. Vaping prevalence was highest among adults aged 25 to 34 at a rate of 16.4%.
Experts note health concerns
Justin Webb from London Metropolitan University described the rise as somewhat concerning for public health officials. He noted that while vapes help adults quit smoking, their long-term effects remain unconfirmed and they are not risk-free.
Reported by one outlet
Only one outlet has published this. Nothing here has been checked against a second report, so read it as that outlet's account and follow the link below for the original.
Reported by
1 independent outlet. Headline as published. Links open the original report.