Vaping is gaining ground in France, with nearly 8% of adults aged 18 to 79 now reporting use of e-cigarettes, and over 6% vaping daily. This upward trend, observed since 2016, raises significant questions about long-term health impacts, according to a major 2024 health survey published by Santé Publique France (SpF).
The survey, based on responses from approximately 35,000 people, shows daily vaping has risen to 6.1% overall in 2024, up from just 2.5% in 2016. Usage is slightly higher among men and remains stable around 8% for those aged 18-49 before declining with age. Socio-economic factors also play a role, with daily vaping more common among manual workers (7.3%) and the unemployed (7%) compared to executives (5.2%) and retirees (2%).
Crucially, SpF notes a strong link to tobacco: nearly all daily vapers have experience with smoking, with 47.7% being dual users and 49.5% former smokers. While smoking prevalence is decreasing, the rise in vaping, particularly among adolescents, sparks concern over the potential "renormalization" of smoking behaviors and persistent nicotine addiction. The agency warns that e-cigarettes could act as a gateway to smoking and highlights that their health effects are "insufficiently known," citing emissions of volatile organic compounds and metals toxic to lungs. The efficacy of vaping for smoking cessation also remains a subject of debate.
