FOI reference: FOI-2026-3514
You asked
I am interested in statistics relating to increase/decrease in vape use generally as well as trends for university students specifically in the UK and any correlational statistics globally.
Any information relating to confounding variables, such as type of use, i.e. occasional/daily or dual use with combustible tobacco products, and other factors such as perceptions of harm, social desirability or coping with stress would be most beneficial to support some of the existing literature reviewed to date.
We said
Thank you for your request.
We publish annual statistics on e-cigarette use as part of our Adult smoking habits in the UK statistical bulletins. Data for e-cigarette use come from the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN), which covers adults aged 16 years and over in Great Britain. The Quality and Methodology Information for the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) provides further information about the survey.
The E-cigarette use in Great Britain and E-cigarette use in England datasets provide trend data between 2014 and 2024 on the proportion of adults in Great Britain and England who use e-cigarettes. The datasets include statistics on e-cigarette use split by age, sex and cigarette smoking status. From 2020, the data separate e-cigarette users into daily and occasional users.
We do not hold statistics on e‑cigarette use for countries outside Great Britain, nor do we produce international or correlational analyses. The Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD) publishes trend data on e‑cigarette use by country, age and sex via the OECD Data Explorer, using data supplied by individual countries. The methodology, coverage and definitions of e‑cigarette use vary across countries (for example, age ranges and survey questions). Country‑specific information is available in the OECD Health Statistics 2025: Definitions, Sources and Methods. Users should consider these differences when making any comparisons or interpreting the data. We are unable to advise further on the interpretation or comparability of OECD statistics.
The Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) does not collect information on whether respondents are university students, people’s motivations for e-cigarette use or other factors such as people’s perceptions of harm, social desirability or coping with stress. We therefore unfortunately do not hold these statistics that you have requested.
You may wish to direct your request to the Office for Health Improvements and Disparities (OHID) and NHS England, as they also produce statistics on this topic.