Smoking rates reach historic low, e-cigarette use on the rise

Smoking in the UK has hit a record low, with just 11.9 per cent of adults reporting they smoked cigarettes in 2023, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This marks the lowest smoking rate since records began in 2011 and reflects a significant drop from the 20.2 per cent recorded that year. The data, published Tuesday, comes from the Annual Population Survey (APS), which gives headline indicators of the number of adults aged 18 years and over who smoke in the UK.

The decline in smoking is most pronounced among younger adults. The smoking rate among 18 to 24-year-olds has fallen by 15.9 percentage points, from 25.7 per cent in 2011 to 9.8 per cent in 2023. Despite this, the highest prevalence of smoking in 2023 was found among those aged 25 to 34, with 14.0 per cent of that age group reporting they currently smoke.

Smoking rates also vary across the UK’s nations, with England recording the lowest prevalence at 11.6 per cent, while Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland had higher smoking rates of 13.5 per cent, 12.6 per cent, and 13.3 per cent, respectively.

Meanwhile, e-cigarette use continues to rise, particularly among younger people. An estimated 5.1 million adults in Great Britain (9.8 per cent) reported using e-cigarettes either daily or occasionally in 2023, according to the ONS’s Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN), which collects information on e-cigarette use among those aged 16 years and over in Great Britain, excluding Northern Ireland.

Usage was highest among 16 to 24-year-olds, with 15.8 per cent vaping regularly. Among never-smokers, the number of daily e-cigarette users doubled to 1.2 per cent, indicating a shift in nicotine consumption habits.

The gender divide remains consistent in both smoking and vaping. Men were more likely to smoke (13.7 per cent) and use e-cigarettes (11.0 per cent) than women, with 10.1 per cent of women reporting they smoke and 8.5 per cent using e-cigarettes.