France: Smoking is declining, vaping is on the rise

In 2025, tobacco use will continue to decline in France, but vaping will increase sharply, according to the report published by the OFDT on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day.[1]. The document also shows an increase in smoking cessation aids and greater use of support services. Behind these trends, the market remains structured by regional disparities, a rise in new nicotine products that perpetuate addiction, and persistent public health challenges.

A diversified tobacco market that is generally declining

Tobacco sales volumes in tobacconists' shops fell by 8.2 million tonnes in 2025 compared to 2024, totaling 30,165 tonnes in mainland France. Cigarette sales declined by 8.7 million tonnes, rolling tobacco by 9.6 million tonnes, heated tobacco by 22.9 million tonnes, and cigars by 2.4 million tonnes. In contrast, sales of other tobacco products (hookahs, pipe tobacco, rolling tobacco, blunts, etc.) remained generally stable. Their market share has more than doubled since 2017, rising from 3 million tonnes to 8 million tonnes. The overall turnover of tobacco will reach 18.4 billion euros in 2025 in mainland France, a level that has remained stable since 2017 (19.3 billion in 2024 and 18.1 billion in 2017) despite the decline in volumes.

Furthermore, the OFDT estimates that off-network purchases represent between 10% and 20% of total sales, primarily attributable to cross-border purchases. The OFDT notes that while border departments still account for a significant share of sales, the decline in these departments is now less pronounced than before. This trend is partly explained by tax increases observed in several neighboring European countries, such as Belgium, which reduce the incentive for cross-border purchases.

Smoking rates are declining but remain high among adults, while vaping is on the rise, especially among young people.

With slightly less than one in five people smoking in 2024, the lowest level since 2000, daily smoking among 18-75 year olds has decreased but remains significant. The report specifies that in 2024, 18.2% of 18-75 year olds reported smoking daily, compared to 25% in 2021. However, significant social inequalities persist: manual workers smoke more than twice as much daily as managers.

Among teenagers, the decline is clear. In 2024, 7.7% of middle school students and 30.6% of high school students reported having smoked a cigarette, compared to 11.4% and 34% respectively in 2022. Daily smoking now affects 0.9% of middle school students and 5.6% of high school students. The French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT) emphasizes that, over fifteen years, experimentation has decreased by a factor of four among middle school students and by a factor of two among high school students.

Conversely, vaping is experiencing strong growth. Among adults aged 18-75, in 2023, 8.3% reported having vaped in the twelve months preceding the survey, 6.1% daily compared to 2.7% in 2022. Among young people, the progress is marked: 46% of high school students had already tried e-cigarettes by 2024, compared to 35.1% in 2014. Daily use continues to rise among high school students, increasing from 2.8% in 2018 to 6.8% in 2024, as does exclusive daily use: from 0.8% in 2018 to 4% in 2024. This trend can be explained by the attractiveness of these products, which increase initiation and dependence on nicotine among younger people. The OFDT (French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction) notes in this regard that Disposable electronic cigarettes have been banned in France since February 2025., in a logic of reducing attractiveness for minors.

The report notes that the vaping market has grown significantly, driven by the diversification of products, flavors, and sales channels. The sector's revenue has almost doubled in five years, rising from €830 million in 2020 to €1.6 billion in 2025.

Increased use of smoking cessation programs, but support can be strengthened.

The report also highlights a more favorable trend in smoking cessation. Sales of nicotine replacement therapies (oral medications, patches, etc.) in pharmacies increased by 7% in 2025 compared to 2024, with sales volumes rising by 58% since 2019. The number of unique beneficiaries receiving reimbursement reached 1,197,657 in 2025, 1.2% more than in 2024. This increase is consistent with the rise in quit attempts observed in recent surveys.

Telephone and online support services are also following this trend, although the changes are mixed. The Tabac Info Service website recorded 4.2 million visits in 2025 compared to 4 million in 2024, and approximately 61,000 calls were handled by tobacco cessation specialists in 2025, an increase of 5.2% compared to 2024. However, registrations for the "Month Without Tobacco" campaign are declining, with 117,568 visits for the 2025 edition, a decrease of 12.2% compared to 2024. These figures show that the demand for support and assistance exists, but that follow-up and continued efforts to quit are necessary.

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[1]Douchet M.-A., Smoking and quitting smoking by 2025, Paris, OFDT, coll. Notes de bilan, 20 p., published on 27 May 2026, accessed on 28 May 2026

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