Vaping is the trendy term for using e-cigarettes.
The use of electronic cigarettes has risen substantially in the past 10 years, especially among young adults and even teens.
Due to the statistics from 2024, many are backtracking their use of e-cigarettes, i.e. vaping.
The following will address vaping statistics and facts that have been uncovered since its rise to popularity.
Key Vaping Statistics 2025
- The percentage of American adults who know about the harmful effects that come from vaping and e-cigarettes is 94%.
- E-cigarette or Vaping Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) hospitalizations are mostly affecting young adults.
- Malfunctions associated with using e-cigarettes generated 2,035 emergency room visits from 2015 to 2017.
- The vaping market was valued at $14.05 billion in 2018.
- The projected value of the market is $27.5 billion by 2027.
- 11% of Americans vape.
- It’s reported that among Americans, millennials rank highest for vaping.
- An estimated 3.02 million American high schoolers engage in vaping.
- In 2018, e-cigarette usage rose by an alarming 78%.
- American men are more likely to vape than American women by almost double.
- The pandemic has positively impacted vaping among youths.
Vaping and E-Cigarette Industry Statistics 2025
The vaping industry has its faults that we will discuss in this section of vaping statistics and data.
1. JUUL Labs Sold 63% of Nicotine-Containing Vape Products in America in 2020.
Second to JUUL Labs was Vuse with 24% of the total sales of nicotine vaping products. Blu came in third with 6% and Njoy only 2%.
In 2019, when there were no age or flavor restrictions in the vaping industry, JUUL had nearly 75% of that market share, according to Nielsen data.
JUUL Labs today holds about 40% of the vape market share, which is what they had in 2017.
3. The Vaping Market Was Valued at $14.05 Billion in 2018.
Regardless of the risks that may occur from vaping, the market for electronic cigarettes and vape pens has grown.
At least it did until the pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic put a kink in the e-cigarette statistics.
The initial forecast set in 2019 for growth in this industry was $29.39 billion by 2022. Now, the new projections are showing $27.5 billion by 2027.
4. Vape Stats Showed a Boost in Vaping and E-Cigarette Products Between 2014 and 2020.
The data analyzed between September 2014 and May 2020 showed that vaping retail sales went up by 9.4 million units during a 4-week period.
The data indicated that these sales rose from 7.7 million units in 2014 to 17.1 million in that span of time.
5. According to February 2020 Vaping Statistics, Sales of E-Cigarettes and Associated Products Are Banned in 41 Countries.
Some countries included in the electronic cigarette sales ban include Egypt, Japan, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, India, and Iran.
If you vape, you will need to know which countries don’t allow vaping or the sale of vaping products.
Health-Related Vaping Statistics and Facts
The vaping industry isn’t the only arena where e-cigarettes and vaping cause problems. Here are the health vaping stats.
6. The Percentage of American Adults Who Know About the Harmful Effects that Come from Vaping and E-Cigarettes Is 94%.
Nearly all American adults know that e-cigarettes and vaping are harmful, with only 6% ignoring this fact. 59% of Americans surveyed reported that they heard how using e-cigarettes and vaping potentially result in respiratory conditions.
Another 14% claimed they know a little about vaping.
7. Malfunctions Associated with Using E-Cigarettes Generated 2,035 Emergency Room Visits from 2015 to 2017.
Sadly, e-cigarette malfunctions happen more frequently than you might think. These alternative smoking devices are associated with battery malfunctions that lead to explosions.
These malfunctions can result in major injuries and also result in fatalities.
8. Between 2019 and 2020, 2,807 People Were Hospitalized from Lung Injuries Related to Vaping.
The primary risk associated with using e-cigarettes and vaping is a term called EVALI, e-cigarette and vaping use-associated lung injury.
According to statistics in 2019, an outbreak of EVALI was associated with the vitamin E acetate found in e-cigarettes.
9. 68 Fatalities from EVALI Were Reported in America Between 2019 and 2020.
E-cigarette statistics reported by the CDC confirmed the 68 deaths between December 2019 and February 2020.
The median age of those who died was 49.5 years old. The youngest person was 15, and the oldest was 75.
10. E-Cigarette or Vaping Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) Hospitalizations Are Mostly Affecting Young Adults.
CDC vaping data shows that between August 2019 and February 2020 young adults were the highest demographic group hospitalized for EVALI.
37% were between 18 and 24 years old. 24% of the patients fell in the 25-34 and over age group.
11. 5 out Of 5 Vapers that Were Hospitalized Admitted to Using THC Products when Vaping.
Approximately 82% of those who vape with lung injuries used THC products when they vaped. One-third of this group said that THC products were their exclusive vaping option.
Based on the statistics reporting that vitamin E acetate is the main issue for lung injury, it’s no surprise since vitamin E is widely used in THC-containing vaping solutions.
12. Between 2010 and 2018, There Were 17,358 Instances of Ingestion or Exposure to Vaping and E-Cigarette E-Liquids.
In case you didn’t know, e-liquids are extremely toxic, especially if younger children are exposed. A shocking e-cigarette statistic is that 68.4% of these cases involved children under 5 years old.
Vaping and Young Americans
America still allows for the sale of vape pens, e-cigarettes, and any products related to them. Here are the electronic cigarettes and vaping data about how it affects America’s young people.
13. An Estimated 3.02 Million American High Schoolers Engage in Vaping.
The official data comes from the CDC from 2020 and shows that 19.6% of high-school students in America use e-cigarettes.
Even worse, nearly 38.9% of them admitted to frequent use. Also, 22.5% of students who frequently vape are doing so daily.
The other group of students reported vaping more than 20 out of 30 days.
14. Statistics Show that Young People Who Vape Are More Apt to Start Smoking Tobacco Cigarettes than Those Who Don’t Vape.
In 2016, data suggests that of the people between the ages of 13 and 25 who vaped, 55.9% started using tobacco cigarettes and products along with vaping.
This could put people who are trying to quit smoking by using e-cigarettes at risk of using both.
15. In 2018, E-Cigarette Usage Rose by An Alarming 78%.
The largest increase in e-cigarette usage occurred among middle school and high school students.
In 2017, 12% of high schoolers vaped, but by 2018, that percentage was 21%. These percentages mean that about 1.5 million new teenagers started vaping in 2018.
16. Nearly 83% of Teens Who Vape Use Flavors.
Statistics about vaping from 2020 shows that fruity flavors are the most popular, followed by menthol, mint, and sweet flavors like candy.
The FDA set a new policy to prohibit using any vaping or e-cigarette cartridges other than the tobacco and menthol-flavored kind unless they have FDA approval.
17. The Pandemic Has Positively Impacted Vaping Among Youths.
The vaping data shows that a dip in e-cigarette and vaping products among America’s youth occurred during 2020.
High-schoolers usage dropped from 28% as reported in 2019 to under 20% in 2020. Middle school students went from 11% in 2019 to 5% in 2020.
Age restrictions, flavor restrictions, and fatalities also played a role in the decline of vaping, but the pandemic is believed to have the biggest impact.
18. 2020 Statistics About Vaping Shows that 11% of Americans Vape.
Statistics from 2020 showed that 11% of Americans vape, which is down from 2019, where it was 13% As of July 2021, a Gallup poll showed a drop to 6%.
The percentage of Americans who vape is now lower than the percentage of Americans who have tried or used marijuana, which is 9%.
19. American Men Are More Apt to Vape than American Women by Almost Double.
2020 data about vaping revealed that men are more apt to vape than women in America. Of the survey respondents, 30% of men said they had vaped, while only 14% of women admitted to it.
Whether this is due to the pressure placed on men to vape or smoke in social settings is unknown, but is the likely reason.
On the other hand, in 2018, a study showed that 60% of women said they would be likely to vape or try it opposed to 45 % of men who said the same.
It is unknown if the pandemic affected these numbers.
20. It’s Reported that Among Americans, Millennials Rank Highest for Vaping.
Millennials seem to account for the highest percentage of vapers. The data from 2019, is pre-pandemic, but 21% of millennials claimed to use e-cigarettes occasionally or regularly.
The next highest group is Gen-Z at 18%. Finally, baby boomers come in at 5%, and the Silent Generation at 1% of Americans who vape.
Vaping and E-Cigarette Statistics in the UK 2024
21. Most People in The UK Use Tanks Instead of Pods or Cartridges for Vaping.
The data shows that UK vapers prefer rechargeable and refillable tank kits over cartridges. About 18% of those who vape in the UK have pod systems.
22. Most Vapers in The UK Use It to Quit Smoking.
The most common reason people in the UK use e-cigarettes is to help them kick the smoking habit. They also use this smoking alternative because it’s not banned in most public places.
23. The Age Demographics for UK Vapers Is Between 35 and 44.
While the US age range is between 18 and 24, the UK has a wider age range of those who vape.
24. 2021 Statistics Show that Two-Thirds of Those Who Vape Are Ex-Smokers.
This means that 64.6% of UK people who use e-cigarettes used to smoke. Now they are ex-smokers. This doesn’t mean that this is the best way to quit.
25. About 12,000 People in The UK Google “is Vaping Safe” Each Month.
This means that about 144,000 Google searches a year are related to ‘is vaping safe’. The messages you get about vaping are less negative in the UK than in the US.
Because of the differences in regulations, you will find discrepancies on the websites from your Google search.
FAQs
What Is Vaping?
Vaping relates to any device, a vape pen or e-cigarette, that uses e-liquid to produce steam (an aerosol) that is inhaled.
It’s often used as a tobacco cigarette alternative to kick the tobacco habit. There is a debate about that on both sides.
Younger people who vape, typically refer to it as JUULing, since JUUL Labs has been a leader in the vaping and e-cigarette industry.
The common ingredients used in e-liquids include vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, nicotine, CBD, THC, sweeteners, and solvents.
What Can Vape Do to Your Lungs?
E-liquids can just as easily cause lung impairment as tobacco. Some things that could happen to your lungs include:
– Pneumothorax is a collapsed lung, which is very painful and results from air escaping due to a hole in the lung(s).
– Cancer could happen, but the data is not yet clear on that. It’s just not excluded from the list.
– Bronchiolitis obliterans, or popcorn lung, which is damage to the small airways occurs.
– Lipoid pneumonia is a fatty acid buildup in the lungs resulting from the inflammatory response to the aerosols of vape products.
What Can Vape Do to Your Body?
The data on what can happen to your body from using e-cigarettes is still vague. However, research into the effects on the body is in process.
Thus far, the discoveries have been related to cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
Pregnant women should know that in vitro, the chemicals used in e-liquids are damaging to lung cells, much like being exposed to poisonous gas or toxic fumes.
The flavors are more toxic, as are the solvents and the vitamin E acetate. Another factor is that e-cigarettes with nicotine e-liquid are likely to result in nicotine addiction.
It’s important to know that nicotine is the main element in both cigarettes and e-cigarettes (when you use nicotine e-liquid) known to increase your risk of a heart attack.
Studies on nicotine have proven that it raises your heart rate and blood pressure, and spikes your adrenaline, which can lead to a heart attack.
How Many People Have Died from Using E-Cigarettes?
According to 2020 statistics, 68 deaths have been reported.
Two more deaths have been reported due to electronic cigarette explosions.
How Many Teenagers Vape?
In the United States, teen vaping has gone down, mostly due to the pandemic.
An estimated 3.02 million high school students and 550,000 middle school students in America admitted to vaping in 2020.
Is Vaping Better or Worse than Smoking?
The idea that e-cigarettes are better for you than smoking tobacco cigarettes is not true.
Since the data related to smoking goes back decades, there is no way to emphatically state that one is better for you than the other.
Essentially, vaping could be less harmful than smoking, but that doesn’t make it safe.
Let’s look at some stats:
– 2019 – Data showed that vaping doubles your chances of getting addicted to nicotine.
– Chemicals – E-cigarettes don’t contain most of the 7,000 chemicals found in tobacco cigarettes. There is no evidence for comparing the health issues caused by each.
– EVALI – E-cigarette Vaping products use Associated Lung Injury, a subacute or acute respiratory condition that damages the lungs and can be fatal.
The best way to avoid the known issues related to vaping and e-cigarettes are to abstain from partaking in this alternative to tobacco smoking.
Also, it’s best not to smoke at all.
Some studies show e-cigarettes are as addictive as tobacco cigarettes. That is the one aspect of both types of smoking that is harmful to your health.
Conclusion
A positive effect of the pandemic is the downturn in e-cigarette and vape use. The whole COVID-19 ordeal put a new perspective on how vaping and smoking have consequences.
Not only did vaping and e-cigarette usage go down, but tobacco smoking also declined.
These statistics for 2025 don’t mean that the usage of e-cigarettes or tobacco cigarettes won’t return, but for now, it’s down.
Until e-cigarette manufacturers find a way to make safer e-liquids, the industry will require much study and monitoring.
Additionally, more studies to uncover the effects of vaping should be done to better serve the public good.
Did You Know?
Here are some interesting facts from CASAA regarding the history of electronic cigarettes.
The first e-cigarette was patented by Joseph Robinson in 1930. He filed that patent in 1927. However, the device was never made public or commercialized.
There also isn’t any evidence of a prototype. However, it’s proof that somebody thought about this a long time ago.
In the 1960s, Herbert A, Gilbert got credit for the first e-cigarette device. The patent was filed in 1963 and received in 1965.
While there were prototypes that Gilbert created, the product was never advertised or made public. It’s not clear as to why.
Phil Ray created the first commercialized e-cigarette in 1979. He worked alongside his physician to design it. Ray was also one of the pioneers in the computer field.
In their creation of the said device, Ray and his doctor performed the first formal research on how to deliver nicotine through the e-cigarette.
While it was somewhat commercialized through retailers of the era, a delivery method for nicotine was never established.
This put an end to the product since they considered the nicotine delivery failure to be a dead end. On a lighter note, these men did coin the phrase ‘vape’ in their advertising.
Between 1990 and 2002, many attempts to get e-cigarettes off the ground failed, mostly because the FDA would not approve the idea, much less the device.
It was not until 2003 that the first successful e-cigarette was commercialized in China. Hon Lik, a pharmacist, smoker, and inventor created the device after the death of his father.
His father died of lung cancer because he was a heavy smoker. Lik is usually considered to be the inventor of the first e-cigarette.
In 2006, electronic cigarettes were made public in Europe and the United States. By 2008, Turkey suspended the sale of e-cigarettes in traditional stores, but they could buy them online.
Also in 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) deemed the e-cigarette an ineffective smoking cessation device.
It also demanded that marketing reflect that by taking the safety and effectiveness promises out of the advertising campaigns and off the labels.
Late in 2008, New Zealand conducted studies and quantitative analysis on e-cigarettes to discover that the toxins and carcinogens present in these devices were below harmful levels.
The claim was they are less dangerous by 100 to 1000 times than traditional cigarettes.
Between 2009 and now, some countries have banned the use of e-cigarettes and vaping. Improvements to these products have been made.
Many studies have ensued since the initial studies from the early 2000s. Lawsuits have been won against the e-cigarette companies for damages in certain cases.
Vaping and e-cigarettes have and will continue to go through many studies, evolutions, innovations, and opinions.
It’s been an interesting ride so far, and it seems it will be that way until more data and vaping statistics are uncovered.
