Where In The World Is Vaping Popular?

According to Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), 9.1% of Great Britain’s population currently vapes – equivalent to 4.7 million adults. This is a record number of vapers in Great Britain, with 56% of those being former smokers who have successfully quit, while another 37% currently still smoke. There’s no denying that vaping is extremely popular and has been a successful smoking cessation aid for countless people in our country.

However, the popularity of e-cigarettes isn’t limited to the UK. Vaping, once a niche trend, has now become a worldwide phenomenon, reshaping smoking habits and public health. While its roots trace back to China, where the first e-cigarette was invented, vaping’s popularity has transcended borders, bringing about positive change for many individuals.

Asia

In Asia, China holds a pivotal role in the vaping landscape as the birthplace of the first electronic cigarette. This innovation has sparked a global movement that has transformed the way people perceive smoking. Today, China remains a hub for e-cigarette manufacturing, producing a significant portion of the devices and components that fuel the global vaping market.

Despite Shenzhen being a global centre for vape manufacturing, vaping is not as popular as you may expect within the country, which has the world’s largest smoking population. Recently, the Chinese government has reduced the accessibility of vaping to the domestic population by banning the sale of flavoured e-cigarettes (with the exception of tobacco flavours). However, China continues to export these vapes and e-liquids to other countries around the world.

Vaping’s prevalence varies significantly across the rest of Asia. An estimated 15.7 million people were using e-cigarettes in the Asia Pacific in 2018, and countries like Malaysia have vibrant e-liquid manufacturing scenes. On the other hand, countries like India, Nepal, and Singapore have enacted regulations or bans on vaping. Thailand has particularly strict laws against vaping and can imprison tourists caught vaping for up to 10 years or fine them 30,000 baht (£700).

North America

North America has a major vaping scene. Like the UK, the USA is a country where vaping has become immensely popular. A 2018 Gallup poll found that 9% of US adults ‘regularly or occasionally vape’, with numbers likely to have increased since then. The American vape juice industry has also taken off in recent years, with a range of popular e-liquid manufacturers hailing from the states. For example, Ruthless, Element, Anarchist, and Suicide Bunny are some fan-favourite vape juice brands hailing from the land of the free (note: all can be purchased from leading online vape shop Vaping 101).

While vaping is slightly less popular in Canada than the US, there are still many e-cigarette users in the country. There were also around 810,000 vapers in Mexico, according to 2018 research, however, the Mexican government has recently banned selling and buying vapes as well as the use of vapes in public places.

Africa

It’s hard to estimate the prevalence of e-cigarette use in Africa because few studies have been carried out. According to Olufemi Erinoso et al., knowledge levels of between 57% and 79% have been reported across Africa, with most people who have ever vaped being between 21 and 30 years old.

One country where more research has been carried out is South Africa. Surveys have suggested that 4% of South African adults vape, however, the country’s government has recently introduced a vaping tax that may impact this.

Middle East

Similarly, a lack of research makes it difficult to estimate vaping’s popularity in the Middle East. While some countries like Qatar ban the import, purchasing, and selling of e-cigarettes, surveys of students at universities in the United Arab Emirates suggest that 23% currently use vapes.

Oceania

Oceania, Australia and New Zealand stand out as having some strict vaping laws. Although between 2016 and 2019, the proportion of people in Australia who had ever used e-cigarettes rose from 9% to 11%, the country has banned the sale of nicotine vaping products without a doctor’s prescription. New Zealand is known for its very low smoking rates but in recent years the number of vapers has grown more rapidly than the number of smokers has dropped. The country has recently banned most disposable vapes, which may impact the popularity of vaping within the country.

Europe

Closer to home, attitudes toward vaping vary across European countries. Data from Eurostat suggests that some of the European countries that vape the most are France (6.6%), Poland (6.0%) and the Netherlands (5.9%). In contrast, Spain and Turkey have a far smaller percentage of vapers (1.0% and 0.9% respectively).

Conclusion

With an estimated 68 million vapers worldwide in 2020 (according to Tomasz Jerzyński et. al), the popularity of e-cigarettes signals a seismic shift in the global smoking landscape. Countries around the world are witnessing the benefits of individuals making the switch from smoking to vaping. This transformation is not just limited to one corner of the world; it’s a collective effort to create a smoke-free future for all. As vaping gains traction, societies are becoming healthier, environments are cleaner, and individuals are empowered to make more informed choices about their well-being.