Overview

• WHO estimates more than 100 million people vaped in 2024, including at least 86 million adults concentrated in high-income countries.
• About 7.2% of 13- to 15-year-olds use e-cigarettes worldwide—on average nine times the adult prevalence in countries with data.
• The agency says youth figures likely understate the true scale because national surveys cover only about three-quarters of the global population.
• Separate WHO data show tobacco use has fallen to 1.2 billion users from 1.38 billion in 2000, even as Europe now leads in prevalence and female smoking rates.
• European Commission leaders are pressing for tougher rules and higher taxes on vapes, with Tax Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra vowing to extend EU excise rules.