LONDON, Oct. 6 (Xinhua) — Fewer than one in 10 adults in Britain smoked cigarettes in 2025, the lowest proportion on record, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Tuesday.
Around 4.9 million people aged 18 years and over, or 9.8 percent of the population, smoked cigarettes in Britain last year, down from 10.6 percent in 2024, according to estimates from the ONS Annual Population Survey.
The proportion of current smokers has fallen by 10.4 percentage points since the data series began in 2011, when 20.2 percent of adults smoked.
People aged 45 to 54 had the highest proportion of current smokers in 2025, at 12.4 percent. Those aged 18 to 24 recorded the largest reduction in smoking prevalence among all age groups between 2011 and 2025, falling from 25.7 percent to 7.2 percent.
“This is the lowest proportion on record and continues the long-term decline in smoking. At the same time, e-cigarette use remains more common than smoking and has followed an overall upward trend since 2020,” said ONS statistician David Mais.
Separate ONS figures showed that e-cigarette use remained widespread in Britain.
Around 5.4 million people aged 16 years and over, or 9.9 percent, used an e-cigarette daily or occasionally in 2025, according to the ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey. The proportion was broadly unchanged from 10.0 percent in 2024, but remained above the 6.4 percent recorded in 2020.
E-cigarette use was highest among people aged 25 to 34, with 16.4 percent reporting daily or occasional use in 2025. They overtook those aged 16 to 24 as the age group most likely to use e-cigarettes.
The latest figures come as the British government moves to phase out tobacco sales for future generations. Under the Tobacco and Vapes Act 2026, it will be illegal from Jan. 1, 2027 to sell tobacco products to anyone born on or after Jan. 1, 2009. ■