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Never-smokers who vape in Great Britain surpass 1 million, ONS data shows

Proportion of non-smokers using e-cigarettes nearly doubles in four years

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
More than 1 million people in Great Britain now vape despite never having been regular smokers, according to official figures that health experts describe as concerning. The Office for National Statistics data, covering England, Scotland and Wales, show the proportion of never-smokers using e-cigarettes nearly doubled from 1.5% in 2021 to 2.9% in 2025.

The ONS data, published on Tuesday, found that about 5.4 million people aged 16 and above in Great Britain (9.9% of the population) used e-cigarettes daily or occasionally in 2025. Vaping was highest among those aged 25 to 34, at 16.4%, making that group the most common users, overtaking 16- to 24-year-olds who had led between 2021 and 2024.

Among those who had never smoked cigarettes, 1.1 million reported using an e-cigarette daily or occasionally. This figure is up from 940,000 in 2024 and marks the first time official ONS figures have confirmed the number exceeded 1 million for Great Britain. A 2024 study published in the Lancet Public Health journal had estimated 1,006,000 people in England alone who vaped despite never having smoked.

Justin Webb, an associate professor of physical activity and health at London Metropolitan University, said it was "somewhat concerning that 1.1 million people who have never smoked reported using an e-cigarette." He added: "Vapes can help adults stop smoking, but they are not risk-free and their full long-term effects remain unclear. We need to preserve their value as a quitting aid while strengthening protection against uptake among children and non-smokers."

Separate ONS figures covering all four nations of the UK showed that about 4.9 million people aged 18 and over (9.8% of the population) smoked cigarettes in 2025, a decrease from 10.6% in 2024, continuing a long-term downward trend. David Mais, from the ONS, said: "Fewer than one in 10 adults now smoke. This is the lowest proportion on record and continues the long-term decline in smoking."

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The rapid rise in never-smokers taking up vaping signals a new public health challenge, separate from smoking cessation.
  • Long-term health effects of vaping remain unclear, creating uncertainty for millions of users.
  • Policymakers face pressure to balance vaping's role as a quitting aid with measures to prevent uptake among non-smokers and young people.

Background

Vaping has been promoted as a harm reduction tool for smokers trying to quit, but its popularity among young adults and non-smokers has raised concerns. The UK has seen a steady decline in smoking rates, with fewer than one in 10 adults now smoking. However, e-cigarette use has risen, particularly among younger age groups. The ONS data show the trend is shifting toward the 25-34 demographic, who overtook 16-24 year olds as the most common users in 2025.

Key Perspectives

Public health experts: They welcome the decline in smoking but worry about the unknown long-term effects of vaping and the number of never-smokers taking it up. They call for protecting non-smokers while preserving vaping as a cessation tool. The Office for National Statistics: The data reflects a continuing long-term drop in smoking, which the ONS highlights as the lowest proportion on record. Critics/Skeptics: Some health professionals point out that vapes are not risk-free and that their full long-term effects are unknown. They argue that the sharp increase in never-smokers vaping could lead to new health problems down the line.

What to Watch

  • Trends in vaping among 25-34 year olds, the age group showing the clearest increase.
  • Future regulatory responses from the UK government regarding advertising, flavours, and age restrictions on e-cigarettes.
  • Emerging research on the long-term health consequences of vaping, which could shift public perception and policy.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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