Vaping statistics 2024
Time:2024-12-18
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In the mid-1960s, 42% of Americans were smokers, but the combustible tobacco product use rate reduced throughout the following decades. Nearly 1 in 7 U.S. adults smoke cigarettes today, but some use electronic cigarettes, cigars, and pipes.
The use of e-cigarettes has increased, especially among teens and young adults. These products contain various chemicals and come in different flavors. Some studies discuss their safety and potential health consequences they may cause in children, teens, and adults, such as e-cigarette–associated lung injury.
There are numerous blogs and social media posts about the relative hazards and merits of vaping, and it’s easy to get lost in the weeds. Here you’ll find the straight stats and facts on e-cigarettes and vaping.
What is vaping?
The technical name for vaping is electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS), an umbrella term encompassing vape pens, pods, tanks, mods, and e-cigarettes. These devices simulate cigarette or cigar smoking using aerosolized vapor instead of smoke. They employ a heating element that vaporizes a liquid (propylene glycol, glycerin, nicotine, and flavorings), allowing the user to inhale it.
E-cigarettes have a rechargeable base—they often look like pens or USB flash drives—and disposable cartridges that contain the flavored e-liquid. Although vape devices incorporate a heating element, no combustion or smoke is involved. The amount of nicotine in e-cigarettes varies between brands and delivery methods, and its labeling isn’t always reliable.
Some companies market e-cigarettes as a safer alternative to regular cigarettes but also have health risks.
Dr. Ryan Sultan, an assistant professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, explains, “The aerosol from e-cigarettes contains potentially harmful chemicals, not found in tobacco smoke, like heavy metals or volatile organic compounds. While less harmful substances are produced, the ones that are may still pose health risks.”
According to the CDC, e-cigarettes contain nicotine which can harm adolescents‘ brain development and lead to lung damage.
How popular is vaping?
The use of e-cigarettes is on the rise—but is it a passing fad or here to stay? Current vaping statistics can provide some context and help model its continued ascent.
Research shows that 1 in 5 non-smoker high school students used vape pens in 2020. (Truth Initiative, 2021)
More than 2.5 million youths used e-cigarettes in 2022. (CDC, 2022).
Nearly 85% of adolescents use flavored e-cigarettes. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2022)
According to the FDA’s National Youth Tobacco Survey, over 3 million high school and middle school students have used tobacco products in the past 30 days. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 2022).
Vaping statistics worldwide
In 2020, there were 68 million e-cigarette users around the world. (Harm Reduction Journal, 2021)
There were 82 million vapers worldwide in 2021, with most e-cigarette users from the Eastern Mediterranean region. (Emerald Insight, 2023)
Between 2014 and 2018, the largest markets for vaping products were the United States and Western Europe. (University of Bath’s Tobacco Control Research Group, 2023)
Vaping statistics in the U.S.
In 2021, 4.5% of American adults used e-cigarettes. (CDC, 2023)
There was an increase in e-cigarette use from 8.8% to 10.2% between 2019 and 2021 among U.S. adults ages 18-29. (American Cancer Society, 2023)
In 2018, Oklahoma had the highest rate of e-cigarette users, followed by Hawaii, Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Wyoming, and Florida. (Cureus, 2020)
In 2018, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Arizona, and California had the lowest rate of e-cigarette users. (Cureus, 2020)
Vaping statistics by age
Research from 2022 shows that adults ages 18 to 29 were more likely to have used e-cigarettes than those ages 60 to 69. (Tobacco Induced Diseases, 2022)
In 2020, the use of flavored e-cigarettes was more evident in 18 to 44-year-old adults than those ages 45 years and older. (Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2021)
Young people ages 15 to 17 years are 16 times more likely to vape than people ages 25 to 34 years. (Truth Initiative, 2018)
Teen vaping statistics
In 2019, 27.5% of high school students reported using e-cigarettes. (Journal of the American Medical Association, 2019)
According to a 2019 to 2020 survey, 17.7% to 40% of college students have used or currently make use of e-cigarettes. (Springer Nature, 2021)
A 2015 survey showed that around 53% of 8th, 10th, and 12th graders who vape do it to experiment, 37.2% because they like the taste, 23.5% to manage boredom, 22.4% to have a good time, and 21.6% to relax. (Drug and Alcohol Independence, 2016)
Vaping vs. smoking statistics
Adolescents who vape are 3.6 times more likely to use combustible cigarettes later in life. (Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association, 2020)
The CDC suggests that e-cigarettes that contain nicotine may help people quit using tobacco cigarettes more than e-cigarettes that do not have nicotine. (CDC, 2020)
Some studies suggest that the regular use of e-cigarettes may help people quit cigarette smoking compared to a less frequent use. (CDC, 2020)
Health effects of vaping
There have been 2,807 hospitalized cases of e-cigarette, or vaping, product use–associated lung injury (EVALI), resulting in 68 deaths as of February 2020. (CDC, 2021)
A study on mice found that 22.5% of subjects exposed to “e-cigarette smoke” for 54 weeks had developed lung adenocarcinomas, and 57.5% had developed bladder urothelial hyperplasia. (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2019)
Children may be exposed to e-liquid nicotine if their parents store their vape pens where they are easily reachable. This can cause them to develop seizures, breathing difficulties, and an increased heart rate. Poison centers receive around one call every three hours per day about a child who has been exposed to an e-cigarette or liquid nicotine. (Nationwide Children’s)
Vaping cessation
Vaping has been billed as a smoking cessation method, but e-cigarettes can contain just as much nicotine (and sometimes more), making them equally addictive. Because they’re more accessible and easier to use anywhere, vape products can be even harder to drop.
The American Heart Association provides tips on how people can quit smoking and vaping. For example, it suggests the following:
Choosing a quitting day: People can choose a day in which they wish to stop using combustible tobacco products. Doing this with a supportive loved one may also help.
Choosing a quitting method includes the cold turkey method, where someone stops smoking or vaping at once. People may also reduce the number of cigarettes they smoke or the amount they vape daily, which helps reduce the amount of nicotine they inhale.
Planning ahead: People may have to plan ahead if they want to quit vaping and engage in other activities when they feel tempted to smoke. They may work out, go for a walk, or visit a friend who does not smoke.
Seeking medical care: A doctor can help if someone has difficulty quitting smoking or vaping. They may also prescribe smoking cessation medications, such as Chantix and Zyban.
The American Lung Association mentions different organizations that help teens quit e-cigarette or tobacco use, as most start smoking before the age of 21 years. These include:
Not On Tobacco
NOT For Me
QuitSTART App
Lung HelpLine
According to the CDC, workplaces should also have the following to support their employees:
Cessation programs, like education seminars or group or individual classes
Educational materials on tobacco cessation
Therapy, such as counseling and medication reimbursement
Collaboration programs with local health departments
Vaping questions and answers
How many people in the world vape?
There are around 35 million people in the world who use e-cigarettes or tobacco products. It is estimated that by 2023, the cost of vape pens will reach $40 billion.
Which age group vapes the most?
One study found that disposable e-cigarettes are mostly used among individuals ages 13 to 40 years. Teens are also 16 times more likely to use JUUL devices than others belonging to older age groups. JUUL is an e-cigarette brand offering devices similar to a USB flash drive.
Has teen e-cigarette usage reached epidemic levels?
It is estimated that more than 2.5 million high and middle school students use vaping products. E-cigarette use is considered to be an epidemic among adolescents. Companies started selling vaping devices in 2007; since then, their sales have increased among young people. According to the CDC, they also come in kid-friendly flavors to make them more appealing.
What does vaping do to your lungs?
E-cigarettes produce numerous toxic chemicals that are linked to lung disease, including acetaldehyde, acrolein, formaldehyde, and various heavy metals. Such lung diseases are known as EVALI. In 2020, there were more than 2,800 e-cigarette users that required hospitalization as they developed lung problems.
Is vaping safe?
No. Even though research is ongoing, vaping has been linked to heart disease, lung disease, and severe lung injury.
Is vaping addictive?
Yes. Nicotine addiction is common among e-cigarette users. Vaping devices contain nicotine, an addictive substance that increases people’s cravings.
Is vaping worse than cigarettes?
Both vape pens and tobacco products come with health consequences. Many vaping products contain nicotine, which can cause fetal developmental problems during pregnancy. E-cigarette vapor also has substances that may cause lung disease, cancer-causing chemicals, and heavy metals.
Have e-cigarettes led to an increase in tobacco usage?
High school students who use e-cigarettes are more likely to start smoking cigarettes over the next year.
How many people worldwide have died as a direct result of vaping?
There aren’t accurate statistics on worldwide vaping deaths. However, as of February 2020, EVALI caused 68 deaths in 29 states and the District of Columbia.
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