The proportion of adults who vape in the UK is at its highest level, with the number who both smoke and vape doubling over the past three years, according to analysis.
The number of smokers who use both cigarettes and vapes has increased from 17% in 2021 to 32% in 2024 – the equivalent of 2.2 million people.
The analysis, which was conducted by Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) and was based on data collected by YouGov, found 5.6 million adults in Britain vape, about 11% of the adult population.
According to the research, more than half (53%) of those who vape are former smokers, which is the equivalent of 3 million people.
Among all former smokers – including those who still vape or no longer vape – the median length of time spent using e-cigarettes is two years.
However, in the last three years, Ash found more than half of vapers who were former smokers had been vaping for more than three years. This compared with 18% in 2017 when the question was first asked as part of the analysis.
