France: socioeconomic and territorial nuances of tobacco and vaping consumption

In 2023, a representative sample of 14,984 adults aged 18 to 75 living in mainland France was surveyed as part of the Survey on Representations, Opinions and Perceptions of Psychotropic Drugs (EROPP) conducted by the French Observatory of Drugs and Addictive Tendencies (OFDT) since 1999.[1]The OFDT, in partnership with Public Health France, has revealed the levels of tobacco consumption by region within the adult population of metropolitan France.[2]This study complements the results of the OFDT national survey published in November 2024 by also detailing smoking consumption levels according to the main socioeconomic factors. It reveals in particular that less than one in four French people smoke daily, the lowest proportion in more than 30 years but which remains at a particularly high level compared to most countries. Vaping is on the rise but its consumption remains more limited.

Decline in smoking, increase in vaping and strong social disparities

Between 2021 and 2023, daily smoking decreased, with 23.1 % daily smokers in 2023 compared to 25.3 % in 2021. In addition, 8 % of the population aged 18-75 smoke occasionally. This is the lowest proportion of daily smokers since the end of the 1990s. However, compared to the global smoking prevalence, including daily and occasional smokers, of 21.7 % in 2020[3], the problem of smoking in France remains major.

Manufactured cigarettes remain the most smoked, ahead of roll-your-own cigarettes. Cigarillos, cigars, and shisha are much less consumed, with fewer than 5,000 users, very few of whom use them daily.[4].

The recent decline in daily smoking is more pronounced among the unemployed. Compared to 2021, the proportion of daily smokers among the unemployed has fallen by 10 percentage points, from 45.8 per 100 people (compared to 20 per 100 people among employed people) to 35.7 per 100 people.

People with no diploma or a diploma below the baccalaureate level smoke much more (28.9 %) than those reporting a diploma above the baccalaureate level (16.6 %). The prevalence of daily smoking is almost twice as high among people reporting an income below 1,160 euros (30.3 %) as among those with an income above 2,510 euros (17 %).

The proportion of daily smokers decreases significantly with age, reaching one in ten people between the ages of 65 and 75. In contrast, smoking peaks between the ages of 25 and 44, when it affects three in ten people.. Men are still more likely to smoke daily than women, 25.4% versus 20.9%.

Regarding vaping, the proportion of adults reporting having vaped at some point in their lives has almost doubled in nine years, rising from 25.7 % in 2014 to 41.8 % in 2023. In 2023, current vaping affects 8.3 % of 18-75 year olds. This is most often daily use (6.1 % of 18-75 year olds) and affects all categories of the French adult population. More men vape daily (6.8 %) than women (5.4 %).

Finally, 4.8% of adults say they both smoke tobacco and vape, half of them on a daily basis, or 2.1% of 18-75 year olds. Daily vaping is almost as common among occasional smokers (11.2% of adults) as among daily smokers (9.1% of adults).

The study also reveals territorial differences in smoking and vaping

Four regions stand out regarding the percentage of daily smokers. Île-de-France (19.6 %) and Brittany (19.5 %) are the two regions where daily smoking is relatively lower than that of metropolitan France. The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (26.5 %) and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (26.8 %) regions have the highest rates, with a difference of approximately 7 points. In 2023, daily vaping was more common in two regions of mainland France: Brittany (8.5 %) and Normandy (8.1 %).

Between 2021 and 2023, Brittany, Île-de-France, and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region experienced the most significant decline in daily smoking prevalence. In 2021, Brittany had a prevalence of 23.1% and Île-de-France 22.4%. In 2023, these figures decreased to 19.5% and 19.6%, respectively. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region also recorded a notable decline, falling from 24.9% in 2021 to 21.6% in 2023, a decrease of approximately 3.3 percentage points.

Although some regional specificities may exist, several factors can contribute to explaining them. These factors can be cultural, such as the perception of customs influenced by the representation of tobacco on screen Or the involvement of the tobacco industry in local actionsThey can also be socio-economic, linked to living conditions or supply methods. Finally, local policies to combat and prevent smoking also play an important role.

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[1]Le Nézet O., Pasquereau A., Guignard R. Philippon A., Nguyen-Thanh V., Spilka S., “Smoking and vaping among 18-75 year olds in 2023”, Tendances, OFDT, 2025, n° 168, https://www.ofdt.fr/sites/ofdt/files/2025-05/tendances_168_0.pdf

[2]French Observatory of Drugs and Addictive Trends, Smoking and vaping among 18-75 year olds in 2023, published May 20, 2025, accessed May 20, 2025

[3]Tobacco-free generation, Evolution of tobacco consumption in the world (2000-2030), published January 25, 2024, accessed May 21, 2025

[4]From La Chesnais Eric, Cigarette consumption continues to fall, Le Figaro, published May 20, 2025, consulted May 20, 2025

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