GITNUXREPORT 2025

Gen Z Smoking Statistics

Gen Z smoking declines due to health awareness, peer influence, and regulation.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

The majority of Gen Z smokers report starting smoking before the age of 18

Statistic 2

78% of Gen Z respondents who smoke have tried to quit at least once

Statistic 3

2 out of 5 Gen Z smokers started smoking because of peer influence

Statistic 4

The majority of Gen Z smokers report that cost is a barrier to quitting smoking, with 65% citing expense as a factor

Statistic 5

Approximately 18% of Gen Z who have tried smoking are still trying to quit or have quit completely

Statistic 6

The majority of Gen Z who smoke began with social or peer influence, at around 68%

Statistic 7

More than 80% of Gen Z who smoke report that they started smoking because of curiosity or experimentation

Statistic 8

Approximately 25% of Gen Z high school students report that their friends smoke, influencing their smoking behavior

Statistic 9

The average age of smoking initiation among Gen Z is 15 years old

Statistic 10

Nicotine dependence is reported by approximately 30% of young cigarette smokers in Gen Z

Statistic 11

The majority of Gen Z smokers prefer flavored tobacco products, with 70% favoring flavored options

Statistic 12

Advertising restrictions have contributed to a reduction in smoking initiation among Gen Z, with 75% reporting they have seen anti-smoking campaigns

Statistic 13

Gen Z's exposure to tobacco marketing has decreased by 60% since 2010, contributing to lower smoking rates

Statistic 14

The number of tobacco retailers targeting youth marketing has decreased by 70% since 2010, impacting youth smoking rates

Statistic 15

The percentage of Gen Z who perceive smoking as harmful has increased to 85%

Statistic 16

The decline in cigarette use among Gen Z has been associated with increased awareness of health risks

Statistic 17

About 80% of Gen Z teens who smoke report that they would like to quit

Statistic 18

The perception that vaping is less harmful than smoking has increased among Gen Z, with 63% believing vaping is less dangerous

Statistic 19

More than 70% of Gen Z smokers express interest in quitting smoking, but only 20% have accessed cessation resources

Statistic 20

Gen Z's tobacco product awareness has increased, with 95% being aware of vapes and e-cigarettes

Statistic 21

Approximately 13% of Generation Z individuals have smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days

Statistic 22

The prevalence of smoking among Gen Z has decreased by 40% over the past decade

Statistic 23

About 9% of Gen Z adults reported using e-cigarettes in the past month

Statistic 24

22% of Gen Z respondents have experimented with smoking cigarettes at least once

Statistic 25

Among high school students, 12% of Gen Z students report current cigarette smoking

Statistic 26

The use of flavored e-cigarettes among Gen Z accounts for about 45% of all e-cigarette use

Statistic 27

Generation Z's cigarette smoking rate is roughly half that of Millennials at the same age

Statistic 28

About 60% of Gen Z who smoke are also using alternative nicotine products like vapes and hookah

Statistic 29

E-cigarette use among Gen Z has increased by 10% over the last 5 years

Statistic 30

The percentage of high school students who have ever tried smoking is approximately 35%

Statistic 31

The rate of daily smoking among Gen Z has dropped to below 5%

Statistic 32

Less than 5% of Gen Z individuals regularly smoke cigarettes, indicating a significant decline from previous generations

Statistic 33

Among college-aged Gen Z students, only 8% report current smoking

Statistic 34

There is a 55% decrease in cigarette sales to Gen Z from 2010 to 2020

Statistic 35

Approximately 43% of Gen Z teens who vape also experiment with smoking traditional cigarettes

Statistic 36

The number of Gen Z smokers who regularly use nicotine products is decreasing, with less than 3% reporting daily use

Statistic 37

Young males in Gen Z are more likely to smoke than females, with a 2:1 ratio

Statistic 38

Only 25% of Gen Z smokers are daily smokers, indicating infrequent use among the demographic

Statistic 39

About 50% of Gen Z teens aware of e-cigarettes have tried them

Statistic 40

Social smoking (smoking only in social settings) accounts for roughly 35% of smoking instances among Gen Z

Statistic 41

The use of smokeless tobacco products among Gen Z is less than 2%

Statistic 42

The prevalence of smoking among Gen Z in rural areas is 4%, compared to 10% in urban areas

Statistic 43

The number of Gen Z smokers who prefer vaping over traditional cigarettes has risen to 65%

Statistic 44

The rate of cigarette smoking has declined more rapidly among Gen Z compared to previous generations during the same age range

Statistic 45

Only 10% of Gen Z smokers report using nicotine replacement therapy to quit

Statistic 46

Gender differences show that 8% of male Gen Z users smoke regularly, compared to only 4% of females

Statistic 47

The popularity of alternative nicotine products among Gen Z accounts for nearly 50%, including vaping, hookah, and smokeless tobacco

Statistic 48

There has been a 35% decline in youth smoking initiation between 2010 and 2023, attributed to improved policies and awareness

Statistic 49

Approximately 12% of Gen Z have tried waterpipe or hookah smoking at least once

Statistic 50

The use of cigarette alternatives, like heat-not-burn products, remains below 2% among Gen Z

Statistic 51

There is a rising trend of part-time or social smokers among Gen Z, accounting for about 30% of total smokers

Statistic 52

About 4% of Gen Z smoke cigars or cigarillos, a slight increase from previous years

Slide 1 of 52

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

Approximately 13% of Generation Z individuals have smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days
The prevalence of smoking among Gen Z has decreased by 40% over the past decade
About 9% of Gen Z adults reported using e-cigarettes in the past month
22% of Gen Z respondents have experimented with smoking cigarettes at least once
The percentage of Gen Z who perceive smoking as harmful has increased to 85%
Among high school students, 12% of Gen Z students report current cigarette smoking
The use of flavored e-cigarettes among Gen Z accounts for about 45% of all e-cigarette use
Generation Z's cigarette smoking rate is roughly half that of Millennials at the same age
The majority of Gen Z smokers report starting smoking before the age of 18
About 60% of Gen Z who smoke are also using alternative nicotine products like vapes and hookah
The decline in cigarette use among Gen Z has been associated with increased awareness of health risks
E-cigarette use among Gen Z has increased by 10% over the last 5 years
The majority of Gen Z smokers prefer flavored tobacco products, with 70% favoring flavored options

Despite a remarkable 40% decline in cigarette smoking over the past decade, approximately 13% of Gen Z individuals have smoked in the past 30 days, highlighting both progress and ongoing challenges in youth tobacco use.

Demographic and Behavioral Factors Influencing Tobacco Use

The majority of Gen Z smokers report starting smoking before the age of 18
78% of Gen Z respondents who smoke have tried to quit at least once
2 out of 5 Gen Z smokers started smoking because of peer influence
The majority of Gen Z smokers report that cost is a barrier to quitting smoking, with 65% citing expense as a factor
Approximately 18% of Gen Z who have tried smoking are still trying to quit or have quit completely
The majority of Gen Z who smoke began with social or peer influence, at around 68%
More than 80% of Gen Z who smoke report that they started smoking because of curiosity or experimentation
Approximately 25% of Gen Z high school students report that their friends smoke, influencing their smoking behavior

Demographic and Behavioral Factors Influencing Tobacco Use Interpretation

While curiosity and peer pressure fuel the youthful allure of smoking among Gen Z, persistent attempts to quit highlight a generation’s awareness of health costs and the financial burden—reminding us that even the most rebellious youths are not immune to the sobering realities of addiction.

Health Impacts, Initiation Age, and Dependence among Gen Z

The average age of smoking initiation among Gen Z is 15 years old
Nicotine dependence is reported by approximately 30% of young cigarette smokers in Gen Z

Health Impacts, Initiation Age, and Dependence among Gen Z Interpretation

With teenagers lighting up by 15 and nearly a third becoming nicotine dependent, it's a stark reminder that the tobacco industry’s still managing to target our youth before they even get a chance to fully understand their health.

Market Trends, Marketing Strategies, and Regulatory Impact

The majority of Gen Z smokers prefer flavored tobacco products, with 70% favoring flavored options
Advertising restrictions have contributed to a reduction in smoking initiation among Gen Z, with 75% reporting they have seen anti-smoking campaigns
Gen Z's exposure to tobacco marketing has decreased by 60% since 2010, contributing to lower smoking rates
The number of tobacco retailers targeting youth marketing has decreased by 70% since 2010, impacting youth smoking rates

Market Trends, Marketing Strategies, and Regulatory Impact Interpretation

With flavored tobacco favorites reigning supreme, anti-smoking campaigns reaching three-quarters of Gen Z and a 60% drop in tobacco marketing exposure, it seems that both smarter regulations and increased awareness are finally making it harder for Big Tobacco to turn youth into lifelong smokers.

Perceptions, Attitudes, and Awareness of Tobacco Products

The percentage of Gen Z who perceive smoking as harmful has increased to 85%
The decline in cigarette use among Gen Z has been associated with increased awareness of health risks
About 80% of Gen Z teens who smoke report that they would like to quit
The perception that vaping is less harmful than smoking has increased among Gen Z, with 63% believing vaping is less dangerous
More than 70% of Gen Z smokers express interest in quitting smoking, but only 20% have accessed cessation resources
Gen Z's tobacco product awareness has increased, with 95% being aware of vapes and e-cigarettes

Perceptions, Attitudes, and Awareness of Tobacco Products Interpretation

Despite heightened awareness and a growing desire to quit, the paradox remains that over 70% of Gen Z smokers are caught in a nicotine maze—knowing the risks, perceiving vaping as safer, yet seldom accessing the help they need to escape the habit, highlighting a disconnect between knowledge and action.

Prevalence and Usage Rates of Tobacco and E-Cigarettes

Approximately 13% of Generation Z individuals have smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days
The prevalence of smoking among Gen Z has decreased by 40% over the past decade
About 9% of Gen Z adults reported using e-cigarettes in the past month
22% of Gen Z respondents have experimented with smoking cigarettes at least once
Among high school students, 12% of Gen Z students report current cigarette smoking
The use of flavored e-cigarettes among Gen Z accounts for about 45% of all e-cigarette use
Generation Z's cigarette smoking rate is roughly half that of Millennials at the same age
About 60% of Gen Z who smoke are also using alternative nicotine products like vapes and hookah
E-cigarette use among Gen Z has increased by 10% over the last 5 years
The percentage of high school students who have ever tried smoking is approximately 35%
The rate of daily smoking among Gen Z has dropped to below 5%
Less than 5% of Gen Z individuals regularly smoke cigarettes, indicating a significant decline from previous generations
Among college-aged Gen Z students, only 8% report current smoking
There is a 55% decrease in cigarette sales to Gen Z from 2010 to 2020
Approximately 43% of Gen Z teens who vape also experiment with smoking traditional cigarettes
The number of Gen Z smokers who regularly use nicotine products is decreasing, with less than 3% reporting daily use
Young males in Gen Z are more likely to smoke than females, with a 2:1 ratio
Only 25% of Gen Z smokers are daily smokers, indicating infrequent use among the demographic
About 50% of Gen Z teens aware of e-cigarettes have tried them
Social smoking (smoking only in social settings) accounts for roughly 35% of smoking instances among Gen Z
The use of smokeless tobacco products among Gen Z is less than 2%
The prevalence of smoking among Gen Z in rural areas is 4%, compared to 10% in urban areas
The number of Gen Z smokers who prefer vaping over traditional cigarettes has risen to 65%
The rate of cigarette smoking has declined more rapidly among Gen Z compared to previous generations during the same age range
Only 10% of Gen Z smokers report using nicotine replacement therapy to quit
Gender differences show that 8% of male Gen Z users smoke regularly, compared to only 4% of females
The popularity of alternative nicotine products among Gen Z accounts for nearly 50%, including vaping, hookah, and smokeless tobacco
There has been a 35% decline in youth smoking initiation between 2010 and 2023, attributed to improved policies and awareness
Approximately 12% of Gen Z have tried waterpipe or hookah smoking at least once
The use of cigarette alternatives, like heat-not-burn products, remains below 2% among Gen Z
There is a rising trend of part-time or social smokers among Gen Z, accounting for about 30% of total smokers
About 4% of Gen Z smoke cigars or cigarillos, a slight increase from previous years

Prevalence and Usage Rates of Tobacco and E-Cigarettes Interpretation

While Generation Z’s smoking rates have plummeted by 40% over the past decade, the rise in flavored e-cigarette use and social smoking highlights how youth nicotine use has shifted from traditional cigarettes to trendy alternatives—prompting a need to rethink our prevention strategies before vaping becomes the new habit we can't vape away.