The number of adults vaping in Britain hit a record 8-year high. Photo credit: Ganesh Harikant, Pexels
E-cigarette use among adults in Britain has reached its highest point since 2017, according to recent data.
The number of smokers who both vape and smoke has almost doubled in the past three years, and former smokers are turning to e-cigarettes for longer periods to help them quit.
Research by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), based on YouGov data, reveals that 11% of British adults—around 5.6 million people—are now vaping, marking the highest rate recorded. ASH also notes that 53% of these vapers, approximately three million people, are ex-smokers. The proportion of smokers who vape rose significantly from 17% in 2021 to 32% in 2024, translating to 2.2 million people.
For former smokers, including both those who continue to vape and those who have quit entirely, the median duration of e-cigarette use is two years. However, in the past three years, ASH found that over half of ex-smokers who still vape have been doing so for more than three years. This is a marked increase from 2017, when only 18% had been vaping for that long.