How Many People Vape (Updated 2025)

Report Highlights

Vaping is increasing in popularity in the United States, with young adults aged 18-29 being the largest group. Vaping among adolescents is steadily increasing.

• 8% of Americans reported having smoked e-cigarettes or vaped regularly in 2022.
• The highest rates of vaping are in 18–29‑year-olds, compared to just 1% of those aged 65 and older.
• Over 1.6 million U.S. youth and 7.8% of high schoolers vaped in 2024.
• 26.3% of youth vapers report daily use.
• 87% of youth vapers use flavored vape products, with fruit, candy, and menthol flavors being most popular.
• The most popular e-cigarette flavor in the US is fruit, followed by menthol and mint.
• People earning < $40k/year are more likely to vape than those earning $100k+.
• 4.7% of adult men reported current e-cigarette use, compared to 4.3% of adult women.

 

How Many Americans Vape

Vaping continues to hold a consistent presence among the U.S. adult population. Young adults are especially likely to report regular or occasional use.

• 8% of Americans reported having smoked e-cigarettes or vaped regularly in 2022 — consistent with the figures recorded in 2019 (8%) and 2021 (6%) [1].
• Adults under 50 vape at approximately 13%, while only 1% of adults aged 50 and older report vaping [1].
• Young adults aged 18–29 are the most likely to vape, with 13–18% reporting current use, compared to <1% among those 65+ [1].
  
  

How Many Men vs. Women Vape

Gender differences in vaping rates are relatively small, but men tend to report slightly higher usage than women across age groups.

• According to the CDC, in 2019, 4.7% of adult men reported current e-cigarette use, compared to 4.3% of adult women [3].
• Among high school students who vape, a higher percentage were male than female — 12.6% of male students vs. 8.3% of female students [3]. 

How Many People Vape According to Age

Age is one of the most significant predictors of vaping behavior, with young adults and teens reporting the highest use rates.

• 18–24 years old — 2.3 Million [3]. 
• 25–44 years old — 3.2 Million [3]. 
• 45–64 years old — 1.1 Million [3].
• 65+ years old — 0.2 Million [3].
• Youth aged 15–17 are 16 times more likely to vape than 25–34‑year-olds [4].
• Among adult smokers, roughly 30% also vape daily [6].
• 28.7% of seniors who vape reported daily use [6].
  
  

How Many Adolescents (Middle/High School Students) Vape

Vaping is a widespread concern among youth, particularly in high schools, though rates have declined slightly in recent years.

• In 2024, 5.9% of U.S. middle/high school students (about 1.63 million youth) vape, down from 7.7% in 2023
• Among these, 1.21 million (7.8%) are high schoolers, and 410,000 (3.5%) are middle schoolers [2][4].
• 10% of high school students used e-cigarettes in 2023, many of whom did not smoke cigarettes previously [5].
• About 37% of 12th graders reported vaping in 2018, compared with 28% in 2017 [7].
• In 2024, more than 1 in 4 (26.3%) of youth e-cigarette users vaped daily, and 1 in 3 (38.4%) reported using vapes on 20 out of 30 days [2].
  
  

Demographic Patterns of Youth Vaping

Youth vaping differs significantly by race and ethnicity, with American Indian/Alaska Native students showing the highest reported rates.

• In 2024, current tobacco product use among youth was:
  • 16.3% of non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native (AI/AN) students [2].
  • 10% of Black students [2]. 
  • 9.0% of Multiracial students [2].
  • 8.4% of Hispanic students [2].
    
    

Adult Smoking vs. Vaping

While traditional cigarette use remains more prevalent overall, vaping has surpassed smoking among young adults.

• In 2024, 11% of U.S. adults smoked cigarettes, while 8% vaped [1].
• Among young adults (18–29): cigarettes 6%, vaping 18% [1].

Flavors, Devices & Brands Preferred

Flavors play a major role in vaping’s appeal, especially for younger users. Disposable devices and certain brands dominate the market.

• 8 out of 10 youth who vape preferred fruit flavors, followed by candy, desserts, or other sweets, as well as mint and menthol [2].
• The most popular e-cigarette flavor in the US is fruit, followed by menthol and mint [6].
• Products with “ice/iced” flavors account for 54%+ of youth-vaping sessions [2].
• Device types:
  • 55.6% use disposables
  • 15.6% use pre-filled pods/cartridges
  • 7% used tank/mod systems [5].
• The most commonly reported brands reported among current e-cigarette users were: Elf Bar (36.1%), Breeze (19.9%), Mr. Fog (15.8%), Vuse (13.7%), and JUUL (12.6%). [2]
  
  

Regional Differences

Vaping laws and usage vary widely across states and countries. Some regions have implemented strict bans, while international prevalence ranges dramatically.

• The use of e-cigarettes is banned in enclosed public spaces in several US states, including California and New York [6].
• The use of e-cigarettes is banned on all school grounds in several US states, including Florida and Illinois [6].
  
• Global statistics:
  • 4.5% in the United States
  • 7.1% in the United Kingdom
  • 5.9% in France
  • 6.5% in Canada
  • 11% in Australia
  • 12.5% in New Zealand
  • 35% in Greece
  • 7.8% in Italy
  • 19% in Russia 
  • 3.1% in South Africa [6].
    
    

Vaping by Socioeconomic & Educational Status

Vaping is more common among individuals with lower income and educational qualifications.

• Education level:
  • No college degree: 10% vape [1].
  • Some college: 6% vape [1].
  • College graduates: 4% vape [1]. 
  • Postgraduates: 2% vape [1].
    
• Income level:
  • Under $40k/year: 10% vape [1].
  • Over $100k/year: 3–4% vape [1].
• E-cigarette use is most common among US adults who make less than $35,000 per year [6].
  
  

Why Do People Vape?

Motivations for vaping vary by age, with youth drawn in by curiosity and peer influence, while adults often cite stress relief or smoking cessation.

• 55% of youths vape due to curiosity [6].
• 37% of young adults start vaping because their friends or peers do it [6].
• 29% of adults vape for stress relief [6]. 
• 22% of adults vape to quit smoking cigarettes [6].
• 17% of people report turning to e-cigarettes as an alternative to smokeless tobacco or other nicotine products [6].

Trends Over Time

Vaping trends have shifted over recent years, with adult usage rising and youth usage declining since their peak.

• Adult vaping rates have risen from 4.5% in 2021 to 6% in 2022 [5].
• Youth vaping peaked between 2019–2021 and has since declined to 1.63 million by 2024 [2][4].
• Overall youth tobacco use dropped from 2.8 million (2023) to 2.25 million (2024) [2].
  
  

In Closing 

Vaping continues to shape public health discussions in the U.S. and around the world. While adult usage is rising steadily, youth usage, which is still a concern, has shown some signs of decline. 

As public health authorities and policymakers look for ways to curb youth access while supporting harm-reduction strategies for adults, understanding the data behind who vapes and why they vape is essential.

References: 

1. Hrynowski, Z. (2019, October 11). What Percentage of Americans Vape? Gallup. 
2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Results from the Annual National Youth Tobacco Survey. FDA. 
3. Jamal, A. (2024). Tobacco product use among middle and high school students—National Youth Tobacco Survey, United States, 2024. MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 73.
4. (2024, October 17). E-Cigarette use among youth. Smoking and Tobacco Use; CDC.
5. Truth Initiative. (2024, October 16). E-cigarettes: Facts, stats and regulations. Truthinitiative.org.
6. Nevenansky, J. (2023, September 13). 80+ Vaping Statistics, Facts & Demographics. Www.niagararecovery.com.
7. Wein, H. (2019, February). Vaping Rises among Teens. NIH News in Health.