One million UK people who have never smoked are now vapers

1.1 million of those who have never smoked, or ever smoked regularly, say they vape daily or occasionally

More than a million people who say they have never smoked are now vapers, latest data for 2025 reveals, external - up from around 940,000 in 2024.

For the second year in a row, more over-16s in Great Britain are using vapes or e-cigarettes than smoking cigarettes, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Experts say the popularity of cigarette smoking has decreased as the harmful effects of tobacco have encouraged many to quit.

Twenty-five to 34-year-olds are now more likely to use vapes than 16 to 24-year-olds.

New legislation in the UK, external, taking affect in the new year, will permanently ban the legal sale of tobacco to anyone born on or after January 1, 2009 to create a "smoke-free" generation.

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."

And people aged 45-54 had the highest proportion of current smokers (12.4%).

Of the people who currently smoked in 2025, half said they intended to quit. Some 7.2% of people reported having used an e-cigarette, up from 6.6% in 2024.

"Although we don't know the long-term risks of vaping, evidence so far shows that legal vapes are less harmful than tobacco and an effective tool to stop smoking."

1:22What Russia says about death of plague lab researcher. 00:01:22, play videoWhat Russia says about death of plague lab researcher

0:49Young Tories on if their party should do a deal with Reform UK. 00:00:49, play videoYoung Tories on if their party should do a deal with Reform UK