More than 100 million people globally now use e-cigarettes, including at least 15 million children, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In its first global estimate, WHO reported that 86 million of these users are adults, mostly in high-income countries.
As tighter regulations reduce traditional tobacco use, tobacco companies have shifted toward vaping products to maintain profits. While companies claim e-cigarettes help adult smokers quit, WHO warns they are fueling a new wave of nicotine addiction—especially among youth.
Etienne Krug, WHO’s director of health determinants, called the trend alarming. “Though marketed as harm-reduction tools, e-cigarettes are hooking young people on nicotine and threaten to reverse decades of progress,” he said. Governments now face the challenge of balancing the potential benefits of vaping for smoking cessation against the risk of addiction in new users.
Some evidence suggests e-cigarettes can help smokers quit. A 2024 Cochrane review found they were more effective than nicotine patches or gum, though the report emphasized that long-term health impacts remain unclear.
Traditional tobacco use has declined unevenly worldwide. Southeast Asia saw a dramatic drop in male tobacco use, from 70% in 2000 to 37% in 2024, making up over half of the global decline. However, Europe now leads in overall tobacco use, especially among women, with a prevalence of 17.4%.
