Smoking and Vaping Rates in Australia (2025–2026 Update)
Australia has long been a global leader in tobacco control, but the landscape is rapidly changing. While traditional smoking rates continue to decline overall, vaping has surged, particularly among younger Australians.
In this article, we break down the latest smoking and vaping statistics in Australia (2025–2026) and what they mean for public health.
🚬 Smoking Rates in Australia
Smoking in Australia has declined significantly over the past few decades, but recent data shows a more complex picture.
📊 Current Smoking Statistics
- Around 11.1% of Australian adults smoke, with 8.8% smoking daily (2022–23 data)
- Daily smoking rates dropped to approximately 8.3% of people aged 14+
- In 2024, overall smoking prevalence was estimated at 10.5%, down from 11.7% in 2022
📉 Long-Term Trend
- Smoking has fallen by around two-thirds over the past 30 years
- The number of Australians who have never smoked continues to increase, now over 60% of adults
⚠️ Emerging Trends (2025–2026)
- Recent increases in smoking among young adults, linked to vaping restrictions and illicit tobacco markets
- Illicit tobacco is becoming more common, impacting overall smoking behaviour and trends
🧠 What This Means
Australia is still seeing historically low smoking rates, but:
- Progress is slowing
- Certain groups (young adults, lower income populations) are seeing upticks in use
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💨 Vaping Rates in Australia
Vaping has become the fastest-growing nicotine trend in Australia, especially among younger people.
📊 Current Vaping Statistics
- Around 8.2% of Australians aged 14+ were vaping in 2024, down slightly from 2023
- Among adults, about 4.2% use e-cigarettes daily
- Overall vaping prevalence reached around 7.5% in 2025
👦 Youth Vaping Trends
- Among young people (14–17):
- Vaping peaked around 18% in 2023
- Dropped to 15% in 2025
- 79% of nicotine users aged 14–24 now vape rather than smoke
📈 Growth Pattern
- Vaping increased rapidly from <2% in 2018 to over 8% by 2023
- Growth has recently slowed due to:
- Regulatory crackdowns
- Prescription/pharmacy-only access laws
⚖️ Regulation Impact (2024–2025)
Australia introduced strict laws:
- Disposable vapes banned
- Sales restricted to pharmacies
- Prescription required in many cases
👉 Early data suggests these changes are:
- Reducing youth vaping
- But also shifting behaviour (including illicit markets)
🧠 What This Means
- More common than ever among younger Australians
- Often used as a replacement for smoking
- Still evolving under heavy regulation
🔄 Smoking vs Vaping: The Shift
Australia is seeing a clear transition:
- Smoking → declining steadily
- Vaping → surged, now stabilising
- Overall nicotine use → recently peaked and is now slightly declining
This suggests a shift in how Australians consume nicotine, rather than a complete reduction in use.
🚀 Final Thoughts
Australia’s nicotine landscape in 2025–2026 is at a turning point:
- Smoking is at historic lows, but not disappearing
- Vaping has disrupted decades of progress
- Policy changes are actively reshaping behaviour
👉 The best time to quit is now.
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📚 References
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
- National Drug Strategy Household Survey (2022–2023)
- Australian Government Department of Health (2025 report)
- Cancer Council & Generation Vape Study (2025)
- Roy Morgan Research (2025)