For the first time, the World Health Organization has estimated global e-cigarette use — and the agency says the numbers are alarming.
According to a new WHO report, more than 100 million people worldwide are now vaping. That includes at least 86 million adults, mostly in high-income countries, and at least 15 million children ages 13 to 15. In countries with available data, children are, on average, nine times more likely than adults to vape.
“E-cigarettes are fueling a new wave of nicotine addiction,” said Etienne Krug, director of WHO’s Department for Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention. “They are marketed as harm reduction but, in reality, are hooking kids on nicotine earlier and risk undermining decades of progress.”
WHO warns that the tobacco industry continues to introduce new products and technologies — from nicotine pouches to heated tobacco devices — designed to attract new users and keep them addicted.
There is some good news, though. The number of tobacco users worldwide has dropped from 1.38 billion in 2000 to about 1.2 billion in 2024.
“Nearly 20% of adults still use tobacco and nicotine products. We cannot let up now,” said Jeremy Farrar, WHO’s assistant director-general for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Care. “The world has made gains, but stronger, faster action is the only way to beat the tobacco epidemic.”
Regional breakdown:
- South-East Asia: Once the world’s hotspot, prevalence among men has nearly halved — from 70% in 2000 to 37% in 2024. The region accounts for more than half of the global decline.
- Africa: Tobacco use remains the lowest globally at 9.5%, and the region is on track to meet WHO’s 30% reduction target. However, population growth means the total number of tobacco users is still rising.
- Americas: The region has seen a 36% drop in tobacco use, with prevalence now at 14%. Some countries, though, still lack comprehensive data.
- Europe: Now the highest-prevalence region globally, with 24.1% of adults using tobacco. Women in Europe have the highest global rate at 17.4%.
- Eastern Mediterranean: Prevalence stands at 18%, with tobacco use continuing to rise in some countries.
- Western Pacific: About 22.9% of adults use tobacco, down from 25.8% in 2010 — the slowest progress of any region. Men have the highest use globally at 43.3%, while women remain low at 2.5%.
