According to data from the UK’s Office for National Statistics, the rate of adult smokers in the United Kingdom fell below 10% to 9.8% in 2025. Concurrently, the proportion of e-cigarette users among the population aged 16 and over reached 9.9%, surpassing that of smokers.
The UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) has published its latest survey, according to which the proportion of adult smokers in the United Kingdom decreased to 9.8 percent by 2025, down from 10.6 percent the previous year. The process signals a significant and lasting transformation, considering that in 2011, more than 20 percent of the adult population still regularly lit up traditional cigarettes.
According to the lifestyle survey data presented as part of the report, 9.9 percent of the population aged 16 and older in Great Britain used e-cigarettes on a daily or occasional basis. In the same age group, the proportion of traditional cigarette users stood at only 8.7 percent, reinforcing the trend that began in 2024, where the prevalence of vaping exceeds that of smoking.
The data supports the notion that the widespread use of combustion-free nicotine products is closely associated with the decline in smoking. For British policymakers, the main challenge is how to maintain the availability of tools that help adults quit smoking while simultaneously preventing non-smokers from starting.
In Brief
- The proportion of adult smokers in the United Kingdom fell to 9.8% from 10.6% in 2024.
- In 2011, 20.2% of the adult population still smoked in the country.
- In Great Britain, 9.9% of those aged 16 and over vape, while only 8.7% smoke in the same group.
- The proportion of vapers now consistently exceeds that of traditional smokers.
Source: TheVapingToday (thevapingtoday.com)
This summary was created by artificial intelligence based on the original article.