Rising prices, prevention campaigns and the rise of vaping: several factors explain the decline in smoking in France. But social inequalities, new consumption patterns and the persistent dangers of tobacco remind us that the fight is far from won.
A trend that is starting to decline again, after the pandemic
Its barometer highlights a sharp decrease in smoking. The number of daily smokers aged 18 to 75 down by 4 million. And the proportion of daily smokers, among 18-75 year olds, has fallen from 28.6% to 18.2% in 10 years.
However, social inequalities remain marked. Workers smoke twice as much as managers (25.1% compared to 11.8% of daily smokers), and up to 30% of people in financial difficulty smoke regularly.
Smoking is also more common among men than women, and varies greatly between regions.
Asked by France Info, Viêt Nguyen Thanh, head of the Addictions unit at Public Health France, however, underlines that “the downward trend observed since 2016 is reestablishing itself after the pause linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The risks are present, from the first cigarette
Dr Olivier Galera, tobacco specialist, welcomes these results, while calling for caution. According to him, the method of data collection having changed this year, there is a risk that this may have influenced the results. He also warns against situations where vapers continue to smoke.
“If people vape while continuing to smoke a few cigarettes a day, they are no longer counted as daily smokers, but continue to be exposed to the harms of tobacco“.
Indeed, cigarettes present a risk from the moment they are smoked. “The dangers of tobacco are not only linked to the duration of exposure, they are present from the first cigarette and even if you smoke only one per day.. As a reminder, tobacco remains the leading cause of avoidable mortality in France, with 75,000 deaths each year, or 13% of mortality.
Public policies that bear fruit
Several factors explain this decline in smoking. The most effective measures were the neutral package introduced in 2017, the increase in the price of cigarettes (+15% in 2024 for the best-selling pack), the reimbursement of cessation aids and prevention campaigns such as “No Tobacco Month”.
Sales of nicotine substitutes increased by 29%, showing better access to cessation tools. “If these products are used at the right dose and accompanied by monitoring, they can help to sustainably reduce the number of smokers.” specifies Dr. Galera.
Young people and vaping, necessary vigilance
Among adolescents and young adults, the report also shows a decline in smoking among 18-29 year olds. However, vaping has continued to grow since 2007, reaching 8% of the adult population, according to Viêt Nguyen Thanh. She even specifies that “among adolescents, we observe more experimentation with vaping than with smoking.”
An e-cigarette which is however not without danger, according to Dr Galera. “Just like with cigarettes, it takes time to demonstrate the dangers of vaping. We now have around fifteen years of hindsight and several studies show that vaping alone, in subjects who have never smoked, is not completely free of risks, particularly for lung health.. Public Health France and the Ministry of Health, in partnership with Health Insurance, are launching the 10th edition of the Month Without Tobacco challenge, starting Saturday, November 1, 2025. To support participants, Month Without Tobacco offers:
No Tobacco Month, an opportunity to make your desire to quit smoking come true