02 Mar 2026
Worrying Statistics of People Now Engage in Vaping, Reports Global Health Organization
In excess of 100 million people, featuring at least 15 million youth, currently employ e-cigarettes, propelling a recent surge of nicotine addiction, according to current global medical findings.
Youth are, on average, nine times more prone than grown-ups to vape, according to existing global figures.
E-cigarettes are propelling a "new wave" of nicotine addiction, remarked a senior health representative. "These devices are advertised as harm reduction but, actually, are ensnaring youth on nicotine at younger ages and risk undermining years of progress."
Teens Being 'Aimed At'
"Millions of people are stopping, or avoiding tobacco use thanks to tobacco restriction measures by nations throughout the planet," the official said.
"As an answer to this significant progress, the tobacco industry is resisting with novel nicotine devices, aggressively targeting youth. Authorities must take action quicker and more vigorously in applying proven tobacco-control measures," he further stated.
The e-cigarette numbers are an estimate since some countries - 109 in all, and many in African and Asian regions - fail to collect information.
According to the analysis, as of this past February this year, at minimum 86 million e-cigarette individuals were adults, primarily in wealthy countries.
And at minimum 15 million youth aged 13 and 15 presently engage in vaping, based on surveys from 123 nations.
While numerous countries have tried to introduce e-cigarette rules to tackle youth vaping in recent years, by the close of 2024, 62 countries yet had no regulation in effect, and 74 states had no minimum age at which e-cigarettes are allowed to be purchased, reports the medical body.
Simultaneously, tobacco use has been declining - from an projected 1.38 billion consumers in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024.
Occurrence of tobacco consumption among women dropped the largest - from 11% in 2010 to 6.6% in 2024.
Among males, the decrease was from 41.4% in 2010 to 32.5% in 2024.
But a fifth of adults internationally still uses tobacco.
Cigarette consumption is connected to numerous diseases, like cancer.
Professionals state vaping is significantly less harmful than traditional cigarettes, and can assist you cease smoking. It is advised against for individuals who avoid tobacco.
E-cigarettes avoid burning tobacco and do not create resin or toxic gas, a couple of the most harmful elements in tobacco vapors. They include nicotine, which can be addictive.