Overview

• Adolescents aged 13 to 15 are on average nine times more likely than adults to use e-cigarettes, the WHO reports.
• At least 86 million adults vape worldwide, with usage concentrated in high-income countries.
• Global tobacco use has continued to decline, dropping from 1.38 billion users in 2000 to about 1.20 billion in 2024.
• WHO officials say e-cigarettes are driving a new wave of nicotine addiction and call for tighter regulation of new nicotine products.
• Evidence remains nuanced, as a 2024 Cochrane review found higher quit rates with e-cigarettes than with patches or gum while long-term health effects are still uncertain.