Cigarette smoking in the United States has fallen to its lowest level on record, as vape use continues to rise, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The report found that 9.8 per cent of U.S. adults smoked cigarettes in 2024, down from 10.8 per cent in 2023 – marking the first time the figure has dropped below 10 per cent.
The long-term trend reflects decades of public health efforts and growing awareness of the harms of smoking. Rates have fallen sharply since the 1960s, when more than 40 per cent of American adults smoked.
Vaping on the rise
At the same time, vape use is increasing. Around seven per cent of U.S. adults reported using vapes in 2024, up from 6.5 per cent the previous year and nearly double the 3.7 per cent recorded in 2020.
While vaping is not risk-free, it does not involve burning tobacco and exposes users to far fewer harmful chemicals than smoking. The data shows a shift in nicotine use patterns, with falling cigarette smoking partly offset by growth in other products.
“This means that growth in the use of other tobacco products offset the progress on reducing cigarette smoking,” the American Lung Association said in a statement.
Overall, 18.8 per cent of Americans still used at least one tobacco product in 2024.
A decades-long decline in smoking
Smoking rates in the U.S. have been falling steadily for more than half a century.
The decline began after a landmark 1964 report from the U.S. Surgeon General linked smoking to serious diseases including lung cancer and triggered widespread public health campaigns.
Today, smoking remains a major cause of preventable death. More than 480,000 Americans die each year from smoking-related causes, according to the American Cancer Society.
“Smoking causes about 20 percent of all cancers and about 30 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States,” the organisation said.
Differences by age and location
The latest data also highlights differences across population groups.
People living in rural areas were more likely to smoke than those in cities, while younger adults were more likely to use vapes.
Among adults, vape use was highest in those aged 18 to 24, followed by those aged 25 to 44.
Separate data shows younger people are also more likely to use vapes than older age groups, with one report finding that “13 percent report regular use, compared with 1.1 percent of those age 65 and older – 11.8 times higher.”
Youth use remains a concern
The CDC has also found that vapes are the most commonly used tobacco product among middle and high school students. In 2024, around 1.63 million young people reported using them.
“What I find most concerning about the rise of vaping is that people who would’ve never smoked otherwise, especially youth, are taking up the habit,” Dr. Michael Blaha said.
“It’s one thing if you convert from cigarette smoking to vaping. It’s quite another thing to start up nicotine use with vaping. And, getting hooked on nicotine often leads to using traditional tobacco products down the road.”
The CDC said some adults use vapes in an attempt to quit smoking, although no vape products have been approved by the FDA as stop-smoking aids.
