Ankara:Vaping has overtaken cigarette smoking among adults for the second consecutive year, as reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

According to Anadolu Agency, approximately 5.4 million adults aged 16 and over in Great Britain used e-cigarettes daily or occasionally in 2025, accounting for about 9.9% of the population. In contrast, 8.7% of adults were current smokers, which amounts to around 4.8 million people. This continued trend of e-cigarette use outpacing cigarette smoking was first observed in 2024.

The number of e-cigarette users remained largely unchanged from 2024 when 10.0% of adults were recorded as users. However, the proportion of e-cigarette users has increased significantly over the long term, rising from 6.4% in 2020. E-cigarette use was most prevalent among individuals aged 25 to 34, with 16.4% using vapes daily or occasionally.

Meanwhile, cigarette smoking has continued its long-term decline. In 2025, about 4.9 million people aged 18 and over in the UK smoked, representing approximately 9.8% of the population, down from 10.6% in 2024. Since the ONS time series began in 2011, the proportion of current smokers has decreased by 10.4 percentage points from an initial 20.2%.

The highest smoking prevalence in 2025 was among people aged 45 to 54, at 12.4%. The most significant decline in smoking since 2011 occurred among 18- to 24-year-olds, where smoking prevalence dropped from 25.7% in 2011 to 7.2% in 2025, a decrease of 18.5 percentage points.

These latest figures highlight an ongoing shift in nicotine use patterns, with cigarette smoking decreasing while e-cigarette use becomes more widespread. In 2025, the ONS found that 9.9% of adults in the UK were current e-cigarette users, compared to 8.7% who were current smokers.