Smoking and Vaping by the Numbers
Smoking and vaping in data: the dramatic decline of smoking over sixty years, and the rise of vaping in its place.
November 17, 2025 · By The Editors, Healing Stories Network · 2 min read
Few public-health stories show as clear a victory as the long decline of smoking, even as a newer question, vaping, has risen in its place. This post looks at the numbers behind both.
This is a data companion piece, not medical advice. The figures describe populations and are approximate; support to quit smoking or vaping is available and effective.
A historic decline
In the United States, adult smoking has fallen dramatically over the past sixty years, from well over four in ten adults in the mid-1960s to around one in nine today. It is one of the great public-health successes of the modern era.
Smoking over time
The downward trend across the decades is striking.
What drove the decline
The fall in smoking did not happen by accident. Decades of public-health work contributed, including clear evidence of the harms, higher tobacco taxes, smoke-free laws in public places, restrictions on advertising, graphic warnings, and better support to quit. It stands as a reminder that even deeply rooted habits can shift when many levers are pulled together over time.
Where vaping fits
Vaping is genuinely contested. For some adults who already smoke, switching completely to vaping is viewed by some health bodies as less harmful than continuing with cigarettes. At the same time, the rise of vaping among young people who never smoked, and the still-limited picture of its long-term effects, are real concerns. It is best understood as a developing story rather than a settled one.
Why the numbers matter
The smoking decline shows that entrenched health behaviours can change at a population scale, given sustained effort. Vaping complicates the picture, particularly for younger people, and remains an open question. For anyone wanting to stop either, effective support exists.
For practical reading, see our companion pieces on quitting smoking, getting sober, and how to be heard by your doctor, or browse our Addiction & Substance Recovery collection.
About these figures: The statistics here are approximate and drawn largely from national health surveys and the World Health Organization. They are revised periodically and vary by methodology, so treat them as a sense of scale and consult the original sources for current numbers. This article is general information, not medical advice.
This article is a companion, not medical advice. Support to quit smoking or vaping is available through qualified professionals.
The Reading Room publishes personal stories and editorial notes from our press. Everything here is companion reading — never medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For guidance about your own health, please speak with a qualified clinician.