The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning about the rapid rise in e-cigarette use among children, calling it an “alarming new wave of nicotine addiction.” According to the WHO’s first global estimate, over 100 million people worldwide are now using e-cigarettes, including at least 15 million children aged 13 to 15.
In countries where data is available, children are on average nine times more likely to vape than adults, the report found. The WHO condemned the tobacco and nicotine industry for aggressively marketing e-cigarettes as safer alternatives, while in reality, they are hooking a new generation on nicotine.
“E-cigarettes are marketed as harm reduction, but they are getting kids addicted earlier and undermining decades of public health progress,” said Etienne Krug, WHO’s director of health determinants, promotion and prevention.
86 Million Adult Vapers — But Teen Use Rising Fast
The report estimates that at least 86 million adult vapers are mostly concentrated in high-income countries, but the surge in child and adolescent use has become the biggest concern.
“The numbers are alarming,” the WHO said, warning that the industry is shifting focus from traditional cigarettes to new nicotine products aimed at young users.
Progress in Smoking Rates Threatened
While global tobacco use has dropped significantly — from 1.38 billion users in 2000 to 1.2 billion in 2024 — the rise in vaping could reverse decades of progress, WHO officials cautioned.
Still, one in five adults globally remains addicted to tobacco, and the industry is shifting strategies to maintain its consumer base.
“Millions are quitting tobacco thanks to global efforts,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “But the industry is fighting back by targeting youth with e-cigarettes. Governments must act faster and stronger.”
Uptick in Tobacco Use in Some Countries
The WHO also reported that 12 countries have recently recorded a rise in tobacco use, reversing earlier downward trends. This represents “millions more people at risk of disease, disability, and premature death,” said Dr. Jeremy Farrar, WHO Assistant Director-General.
Smoking remains a leading cause of preventable death, killing over seven million people annually, with another one million deaths caused by secondhand smoke, Farrar added.
“Smoking damages every single part of the body,” he said. “Doing it indoors around children is not only irresponsible — it’s unacceptable.”
Key WHO Recommendations:
-
Ban flavored e-liquids that attract children
-
Impose age restrictions and strong enforcement
-
Introduce plain packaging and graphic health warnings
-
Tax e-cigarette products similarly to tobacco
-
Increase public awareness campaigns on vaping risks
The WHO has urged governments to close regulatory gaps, especially in countries where no legal minimum age exists for purchasing e-cigarettes.
