We built this page to be the most complete, regularly updated collection of vaping statistics available online. Every number links back to its original source: government agencies, peer-reviewed studies, and reputable research organizations.
If you're a journalist, researcher, health professional, or just someone who wants the facts, this is your reference.
Last updated: March 2026
How Many People Vape
Global Vaping Numbers
The WHO published its first-ever global estimate of vapers in October 2025. The numbers are significant.
- Over 100 million people vape worldwide, including about 86 million adults and 15 million adolescents aged 13-15 (WHO, 2025)
- The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction report estimates 114 million vapers globally as of 2023-2024 (GSTHR, 2024)
- That's up from about 82 million in 2021 and 58 million in 2018, nearly doubling in five years (GSTHR)
- Global adolescent vaping prevalence (7.2%) is nine times higher than adult prevalence (1.9%) (WHO, 2025)
For comparison, there are roughly 1.2 billion tobacco users worldwide. Vapers represent about 1 in 10 nicotine users globally (WHO, 2025).
United States
- 6.5% of U.S. adults used e-cigarettes in 2023, up from 4.5% in 2019 (CDC NCHS Data Brief No. 524, January 2025)
- 1 in 6 adults aged 21-24 (15.5%) used e-cigarettes, the highest rate of any age group (CDC, 2025)
- Among young adults aged 18-29, 18% reported vaping compared to just 6% who smoked cigarettes. That's a complete reversal of historical patterns (CDC NCHS Data Brief No. 524)
United Kingdom
- 5.4 million adults (over 10%) vape in the UK as of 2025. More people now vape than smoke (ASH UK, 2025)
- UK adult smoking rate hit a historic low of 10.6% in 2024 (ONS, 2024)
- 2.7 million people quit smoking using a vape in the UK over the past five years (ASH UK, 2024)
Demographics
| Demographic | Vaping Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Men (US) | ~7% | CDC NCHS, 2025 |
| Women (US) | ~6% | CDC NCHS, 2025 |
| White adults (US) | 7.5% | CDC NCHS, 2025 |
| Hispanic adults (US) | 4.4% | CDC NCHS, 2025 |
| Black adults (US) | 4.2% | CDC NCHS, 2025 |
| Asian adults (US) | 3.4% | CDC NCHS, 2025 |
| Income under $40K | ~10% | Survey data, 2025 |
| Income over $100K | ~3-4% | Survey data, 2025 |
Vape Industry & Market Statistics
Global Market Size
The vape market has grown rapidly and is projected to keep expanding, though estimates vary depending on what's included (devices, e-liquid, accessories, heated tobacco).
| Year | Market Size | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $35.70 billion | Grand View Research |
| 2025 | $45.74 billion | Grand View Research |
| 2025 | $37.96 billion | Coherent Market Insights |
| 2026 (est.) | $48.18 billion | Research Nester |
Growth projections range from a CAGR of 13% to 33% depending on the research firm and scope. The wide range reflects how quickly this market is evolving and how differently firms define it.
US Market
- US vaping industry generated $9.4 billion in revenue in 2025 (Statista Market Forecast)
- The US moves roughly 20.3 million vaping units per month, a 29.3% increase from 15.7 million monthly units in 2020 (Tobacco Monitoring / CDC Foundation)
- Specialist vape stores hold a dominant 37.6% share of the US distribution market (IMARC Group, 2025)
Market Share by Product Type
Disposable vapes have completely reshaped the market over the past few years:
- Disposables: 45.6% of the global market in 2025 (Grand View Research)
- Disposable unit sales in the US increased 154%, going from 4.0 million to 10.2 million units per month (CDC Foundation)
- Pre-filled cartridge sales dropped 31.3%, falling from 73.9% to 43.4% unit share (CDC Foundation)
- Nicotine salt formulations now represent 62% of all e-liquid consumed worldwide (Industry data, 2025)
Top Brands (US Market Share)
| Brand | US Market Share | Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Vuse | ~38-47% | British American Tobacco |
| JUUL | ~28-30% | JUUL Labs (Altria 35% stake) |
| Elf Bar | ~11% | EBDESIGN |
| NJOY | ~2.7% | Altria |
| Blu | ~2% | Imperial Brands |
Vuse, JUUL, and NJOY combined hold 57.5% of the US e-cigarette market (NielsenIQ via Statista, 2024).
Regional Breakdown
| Region | Global Market Share | Growth Notes |
|---|---|---|
| North America | 41.0% | Largest market |
| Asia-Pacific | 30.3% | Fastest-growing (12.5% growth rate) |
| Europe | ~29% | Refillable systems dominant |
China exported $4.1 billion worth of vape products to the US in 2025, up 11% from $3.7 billion in 2024 (Tobacco Insider).
Youth Vaping Statistics
Youth vaping remains one of the most closely watched public health issues. Here's what the latest data shows.
Current Youth Vaping Rates (2024-2025)
- 1.63 million (5.9%) of U.S. middle and high school students used e-cigarettes in 2024, the lowest level in a decade (CDC/FDA NYTS, 2024)
- 7.8% of high school students (~1.21 million) and 3.5% of middle school students (~410,000) reported current use (CDC/FDA NYTS, 2024)
- That said, the 2025 Monitoring the Future survey showed past-30-day nicotine vaping among 12th graders jumped from 17% to 22%, an abrupt departure from the extended decline (Monitoring the Future, 2025)
The Trend Over Time
Youth vaping peaked in 2019 at over 5 million users, then fell to roughly one-third of that by 2024. But the picture is more complex than the headline numbers suggest.
Among youth who do vape, the intensity is increasing:
- Daily nicotine vaping nearly doubled from 15.4% (2020) to 28.8% (2024) among current youth vapers (JAMA Network Open, 2025)
- Unsuccessful quit attempts rose from 28% to 53% among daily vapers over the same period (USC Keck School of Medicine, 2025)
- In rural communities, daily vaping jumped from 16.4% to 41.8% between 2020 and 2024 (JAMA Network Open, 2025)
What Youth Are Using
- Disposables are the most popular device type: 55.6% of youth vapers (2024 NYTS)
- 87.6% of youth e-cigarette users used flavored products (2024 NYTS)
- Top flavors: fruit (62.8%), candy/desserts (33.3%), mint (25.1%)
- 54.6% used flavors with "ice" or "iced" in the name (CDC, 2024)
- Top brands among youth: Elf Bar (36.1%), Breeze (19.9%), Mr. Fog (15.8%). Four of the top five brands lack FDA authorization (Truth Initiative, 2024)
Youth Racial/Ethnic Disparities
| Group | E-Cigarette Use Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 11.5% | 2024 NYTS |
| Non-Hispanic Black | 7.0% | 2024 NYTS |
| Non-Hispanic Multiracial | 6.6% | 2024 NYTS |
| Non-Hispanic White | 5.8% | 2024 NYTS |
College Students
- 76% of college students who used any tobacco product reported using e-cigarettes, making it the dominant form of campus nicotine use (Statista, 2024)
- One study found college students vape nine times more than they self-report (University of Wisconsin CTRI, 2023)
School Vaping
At four Minneapolis campuses with vape-detection sensors, the devices triggered over 45,000 times between September 2024 and April 2025. That averages out to 412 alerts per school day (The 74 Million).
International Youth Vaping
| Country | Youth Vaping Rate | Age Group | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | 7% currently vape | 11-17 | ASH UK, 2025 |
| Canada | 17% past 30 days | Grades 7-12 | Canadian Student Survey, 2022 |
| Australia | 19.8% ever tried | 12-17 | Australian ADF |
| Europe (avg) | 14.3% | 13-15 | WHO, 2025 |
Europe has the highest adolescent vaping rate globally at 14.3% among 13-15 year olds (WHO, 2025).
Vaping vs Smoking: Health Statistics
The health question is what most people want to know about. Here's what the research says, the good and the bad.
Key Findings: Vaping is Less Harmful Than Smoking
- Public Health England concluded e-cigarettes are about 95% less harmful than cigarettes (PHE, 2015)
- The Royal College of Physicians published a 2024 evidence review confirming "clear evidence that e-cigarettes cause less harm to health than combustible tobacco" (RCP, 2024)
- King's College London found that biomarkers for cancer, respiratory, and cardiovascular risk were significantly lower in vapers vs smokers. Vaping poses "a small fraction of the risks of smoking" in the short and medium term (KCL/OHID, 2022)
- Smokers who switched to e-cigarettes achieved about 80% reduction in biomarkers of toxicant exposure (Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 2022)
For a deeper dive on this topic, see our guide on the benefits of vaping over smoking.
What the Risks Look Like
Vaping isn't harmless. Here's what studies have found:
Respiratory:
- Current e-cigarette users showed a 43% increased risk of developing respiratory disease vs non-users (Boston University, 2020)
- A 2025 meta-analysis of 119 studies found non-smoker vapers had a 1.9x higher risk of respiratory symptoms compared to never-users (Tobacco Induced Diseases, 2025)
- E-cigarette use associated with 33% increase in chronic bronchitis risk, 57% increase in COPD risk, and 31% increase in asthma risk (Johns Hopkins, 2020)
Cardiovascular:
- E-cigarette users were 19% more likely to develop heart failure compared to never-users, based on a study of 175,667 participants (American College of Cardiology, 2024)
- Acute e-cigarette exposure increases heart rate and blood pressure, though less than cigarettes (PubMed meta-analysis, 2025)
Oral health:
- Vapers showed greater probing depth (a marker of gum disease) than non-smokers, but lower than cigarette smokers (ScienceDirect, 2025). We covered this topic in more detail in our guide on whether vaping stains your teeth.
Other findings:
- A VCU study found vapers were physiologically 10 years older than their actual age based on biological aging markers (VCU News, 2025)
- Dual users (vaping + smoking) showed a fourfold higher lung cancer risk compared to exclusive smokers (Frontiers in Oncology, 2025)
The EVALI Outbreak
- 2,807 hospitalized cases across all 50 states, with 68 confirmed deaths (CDC, 2020)
- The cause was traced to vitamin E acetate in black market THC cartridges, not commercial nicotine e-cigarettes (CDC, 2020)
Toxic Chemical Comparisons
- Cigarettes emit 400-650 micrograms of acrolein per cigarette vs about 90-100 micrograms per 20 puffs from e-cigarettes (Berkeley Lab)
- Harvard found diacetyl in 39 of 51 e-cigarette brands tested, though cigarettes contain 100x more diacetyl (Harvard T.H. Chan, 2015)
- For context, cigarette smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals including at least 70 known carcinogens. E-cigarette vapor contains far fewer compounds.
Secondhand Exposure
- Children exposed to indoor vaping absorb less than one-seventh the nicotine compared to children exposed to indoor cigarette smoke (UCL, 2024)
What the Major Health Organizations Say
| Organization | Position |
|---|---|
| NHS (UK) | Recommends vaping as cessation tool; "substantially less harmful" |
| Royal College of Physicians | "Clear evidence" of reduced harm |
| Public Health England / OHID | ~95% less harmful than smoking |
| WHO | Does not endorse; calls it "a new wave of nicotine addiction" |
| American Medical Association | Warns about risks; does not endorse for cessation |
Smoking Cessation Statistics
Does vaping actually help people quit smoking? The evidence is stronger than you might think.
Effectiveness Compared to Other Methods
| Method | Quit Rate (6-12 months) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| E-cigarettes (nicotine) | 8-18% | NEJM 2019; Cochrane 2025 |
| Nicotine replacement therapy | 6-10% | Cochrane 2025 |
| Varenicline (Chantix) | 13.9% | Indian J. Psychiatry, 2023 |
| Bupropion (Wellbutrin) | 6.2% | Indian J. Psychiatry, 2023 |
| Cold turkey | 3-6% | Truth Initiative |
The Key Studies
Cochrane Review (November 2025), the gold standard in evidence synthesis:
- 104 studies, 30,366 participants
- Nicotine e-cigarettes vs NRT: risk ratio of 1.59, meaning roughly 60% more people quit with vaping than with patches/gum
- This is rated HIGH certainty evidence, the strongest possible rating
- Adverse events were similar between e-cigarettes and NRT
- (Cochrane Library, 2025)
NEJM Randomized Trial (2019):
- 886 participants
- 1-year abstinence: 18.0% for e-cigarettes vs 9.9% for NRT
- Worth noting: 80% of successful quitters continued vaping at 52 weeks
- (Hajek et al., NEJM 2019)
Real-World Switching Data
- In England, use of e-cigarettes to support quit attempts rose from 26.9% (2013) to 41.4% (2024) (BMC Medicine, 2024)
- UK NHS stop smoking services report roughly 60% quit rate when vaping is combined with behavioral support (NHS Better Health)
- 67% of young adult nicotine users (ages 18-24) plan to quit in 2026 (Truth Initiative, 2026)
The Misperception Problem
Here's a concerning trend: public belief about vaping's relative safety is moving in the wrong direction.
- The share of smokers who believe vaping is "more or equally harmful as cigarettes" rose from 27% (2019) to 63% (2025) (ASH UK, 2025)
- Only 18.7% of English smokers think vaping is less harmful than smoking, down from 44.4% in 2014 (UCL, 2024)
This gap between evidence and perception is a major public health concern. If smokers wrongly believe vaping is just as dangerous, they're less likely to switch.
Smoking Rate Declines
Smoking rates have declined significantly during the same period vaping has grown:
- US adult smoking dropped to 10.1% in 2024, a 60-year low (CDC)
- UK adult smoking hit 10.6%, a historic low. More adults now vape than smoke (ONS, 2024)
- A Harm Reduction Journal study found that observed US smoking rates in the e-cigarette era were significantly lower than expected based on pre-vaping trends (Harm Reduction Journal, 2024)
- The discrepancies were largest in the 18-34 age group, exactly where vaping adoption is highest
Dual Use
Using both cigarettes and vapes is common but problematic:
- About 3 in 10 (29.4%) U.S. adults who vaped also smoked cigarettes (CDC)
- In England, the proportion of smokers who also vape rose from 19.5% to 34.2% between 2016 and 2024 (Addiction, 2025)
- Dual users experience similar toxic exposure levels as exclusive smokers, offering minimal health advantage (NEJM Evidence, 2024)
The takeaway: switching completely is what matters. Half-measures don't cut it.
Cost Statistics
Vaping vs Smoking: Annual Cost
| Category | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| Smoking (pack/day, US avg) | $2,190-$3,274 |
| Vaping (rechargeable/pod systems) | $400-$700 |
| Vaping (disposables, regular use) | $500-$1,000 |
| Potential annual savings | $1,500-$2,500 |
Adult vapers spend an average of $82.22 per month on e-cigarettes (PMC, 2024).
For a detailed breakdown, check our vaping vs smoking cost comparison guide.
Healthcare Costs
- Total US smoking-attributable healthcare costs: $225+ billion per year (CDC)
- One UCSF study estimated US vaping-related healthcare costs at about $15 billion per year (UCSF, 2022)
Regulation & Policy Statistics
FDA Authorization
The vast majority of vapes sold in the US are technically illegal:
- Only 39 e-cigarette products have FDA marketing authorization as of February 2026 (FDA)
- All authorized products are tobacco-flavored or menthol only. No fruit, dessert, or other flavors have been approved.
- The FDA received over 8 million e-cigarette PMTA applications by the September 2020 deadline (FDA Metrics)
- More than 7.7 million products have been denied or refused authorization
- The Supreme Court unanimously upheld FDA's authority to deny flavored e-cigarette PMTAs in April 2025 (SCOTUSblog)
FDA Enforcement
Enforcement against unauthorized vapes has escalated dramatically:
- Over 9,000 import shipments refused in FY2025, up from ~1,600 in FY2024 and just ~100 in FY2023 (FDA)
- September 2025: 4.7 million units seized worth $86.5 million, the largest-ever seizure operation (FDA/CBP)
- Total 2025 seizures: more than 6 million units worth over $120 million
- 134,000+ warning letters and 30,000+ fines issued for age-verification violations since 2020
- FY2026 budget: $200 million allocated for illegal vape enforcement
- The new END Illicit Chinese Tobacco Act gives authorities power to "seize and destroy" unauthorized imports on arrival
For the latest on how these regulations affect you by state, see our vaping laws guide.
The Illicit Market
The unauthorized vape market is enormous:
- US illicit flavored disposable sales reached about $2.4 billion in 2024 (Circana / Tobacco Reporter, 2025)
- Illicit products represent an estimated 70-86% of the total US vape market (Goldman Sachs; Truth Initiative)
- Chinese vape exports to the US rose to $4.1 billion in 2025, and an estimated 80% are sold without FDA authorization (Tobacco Insider)
- After temporary declines due to enforcement, Chinese exports rebounded to 14.8 million kg/month by October 2025 (Washington Examiner)
US State Flavor Bans
States with full flavor bans on vaping products:
- California: All flavored tobacco products (Proposition 31)
- Massachusetts: All flavors including menthol (most restrictive)
- New Jersey: All flavored e-cigarettes
- New York: All flavors except tobacco and menthol
- Rhode Island: All flavors
- Utah: All except tobacco and menthol (effective January 2025)
- Vermont: All including menthol (effective January 2026)
On top of that, at least 14 states have enacted vapor product directory legislation, requiring products to be registered before they can be sold (Public Health Law Center).
Global Regulation
| Status | Number of Countries |
|---|---|
| Complete sales ban | 44-46 |
| Regulate but allow sales | ~82-87 |
| No regulation | ~60+ |
| Total with some regulation | 133 |
Vape Taxation
34 US states plus DC levy an excise tax on vaping products. There is no federal excise tax.
| State | Tax Rate |
|---|---|
| Minnesota | 95% of wholesale |
| Washington | 95% of selling price |
| Vermont | 92% of wholesale |
| Maine | 75% of wholesale (increased from 43%, Jan 2026) |
The UK will introduce a vape duty of £2.20 per 10ml of e-liquid starting October 1, 2026, roughly doubling the price of a typical bottle (UK Government).
Underage Purchase Statistics
- 43.1% of underage e-cigarette users obtained devices from retail sources (Truth Initiative)
- Among retail purchasers: vape shops (22%), gas stations/convenience stores (15.9%)
- 56.9% got products from social sources (friends, family)
- The federal minimum purchase age is 21 in the US. Most countries set it at 18.
Environmental Impact Statistics
Cigarette Waste
- 4.5 trillion cigarette butts discarded improperly each year, making them the most littered item in the world (WHO FCTC)
- That's equal to 1.69 billion pounds of toxic trash
- Butts take up to 10 years to decompose and leach nicotine and heavy metals into soil and water
Vape Waste
- 150 million+ disposable vapes discarded per year in the US, about 500,000 per day (Truth Initiative)
- UK: 1.3 million disposable e-cigarettes thrown away per week
- Only 15% of young people return empty pods/disposables for recycling
- 52.9% of users throw devices in regular trash
Lithium Battery Waste
- US: 30 tons of lithium discarded annually via vapes, enough for 3,350 EV batteries (PIRG)
- UK battery fires increased 71% in 2024, many linked to improperly discarded vape batteries (British Safety Council)
- Vapes collected during beach cleanups increased 150% between 2021-2024
Key Takeaways
Here's what the data tells us in 2026:
- Over 100 million people vape worldwide, and the number keeps growing
- Vaping is significantly less harmful than smoking according to every major evidence review, but it's not risk-free
- E-cigarettes are the most effective cessation tool available. High certainty evidence shows they beat NRT by about 60%
- Youth vaping is declining overall but becoming more intense among those who do vape
- The vast majority (70-86%) of the US vape market is illicit. Only 39 products have FDA authorization
- Enforcement is escalating with $200 million in FY2026 funding and new "seize and destroy" authority
- Public perception is increasingly wrong. 63% of people think vaping is as harmful or worse than smoking, contradicting the evidence
- Switching completely matters. Dual users get minimal health benefit over exclusive smoking
Sources & Methodology
Every statistic on this page is sourced from government agencies (CDC, FDA, WHO, NHS, ONS), peer-reviewed research (NEJM, Cochrane, JAMA, Lancet), or established research organizations (Truth Initiative, ASH UK, Grand View Research).
We update this page regularly as new data becomes available. If you notice an outdated statistic or have a correction, contact us.
Primary sources used:
- CDC/FDA National Youth Tobacco Survey (2024)
- CDC NCHS Data Brief No. 524 (2025)
- WHO Global Report on Trends in Tobacco Use 2000-2024
- Cochrane Systematic Review (2025)
- Royal College of Physicians Evidence Review (2024)
- FDA Tobacco Product Applications Metrics
- ASH UK Smokefree GB Survey (2025)
- Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (2024)