More than 1 million people in Great Britain now vape despite never having been regular smokers, according to data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). This figure has nearly doubled in just four years, raising concerns among health experts.
Key Statistics
- About 5.4 million people aged 16 and above in England, Scotland, and Wales (9.9%) used e-cigarettes daily or occasionally in 2025.
- Vaping rates were highest among those aged 25-34 at 16.4%.
- Approximately 2.9% (1.1 million) of Britons who had never smoked reported using an e-cigarette daily or occasionally.
Increase in Vaping Among Never-Smokers
The proportion of never-smokers now vaping has increased sharply, almost doubling since 2021, when only 1.5% of never-smokers reported using e-cigarettes. Estimates published in the Lancet Public Health journal in 2024 suggested there were 1,006,000 people in England who vaped despite never having smoked. However, the recent ONS data is the first official confirmation that the figure for England, Scotland, and Wales has topped 1 million.
The 2025 figure for Great Britain stands at 1.1 million, up from 940,000 in 2024.
Expert Opinions
Justin Webb, an associate professor of physical activity and health at London Metropolitan University, expressed concern over the findings:
“"It is somewhat concerning that 1.1 million people who have never smoked reported using an e-cigarette. 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."
