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E-cigarette vaping in China

Profile
China Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
China Background
Profile
China Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Data sourced: 2025.   Page updated: 2026-08-10

Import, export, sale, possession and use of e-cigarettes in mainland China is legal. Vaping is common in larger cities although local laws introduced in certain places like Shanghai, or Shenzhen for example, prohibit vaping in non-smoking areas. Sales of e-cigarettes are banned in Macau but it is still legal to vape. The law, however, bans purchase of e-cigarettes through online channels and via vending machines. Manufacturers are required to notify the authorities about new vaping products before they enter the market and to use child-resistant and tamper-proof containers. They must also place health warnings on their packaging, use only permitted flavours, and limit nicotine concentrations to 20 mg/ml. Vaping is not permitted in public places.

The current vaping prevalence among adults in China was 0.7% in 2022, representing an estimated 8.3 million vapers. The prevalence was 1.1% among adult males and 0.2% among adult females in 2022.

Prevalence

Year Value Reference/Comment
2015 5.7 million 1A A
2022 8.3 million 1B
References:
  1. 1. Feng, G., Nan, Y. and Jiang, Y., 2018, January. Prevalence of e-cigarette in China: preliminary findings from two surveys. In TOBACCO INDUCED DISEASES (Vol. 16, pp. 102-102). 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. 1. China Adult Tobacco Survey 2022 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
Comments:
  1. Data of 2015 China Adult Tobacco Survey (CATS) and International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project China Survey (ITC China Survey) were analyzed to describe rate of awareness and prevalence on e-cigarette. 2015 CATS is a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of adults aged 15 and over. ITC China survey is a cohort study designed to measure the impact of tobacco control policies on tobacco users over time. World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
Year Value Reference/Comment
2015 0.5% 2A A
2022 0.7% 2B
References:
  1. Feng, G., Nan, Y. and Jiang, Y., 2018, January. Prevalence of e-cigarette in China: preliminary findings from two surveys. In TOBACCO INDUCED DISEASES (Vol. 16, pp. 102-102).
  2. China Adult Tobacco Survey 2022 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
Comments:
  1. Data of 2015 China Adult Tobacco Survey (CATS) and International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project China Survey (ITC China Survey) were analyzed to describe rate of awareness and prevalence on e-cigarette. 2015 CATS is a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of adults aged 15 and over. ITC China survey is a cohort study designed to measure the impact of tobacco control policies on tobacco users over time.
0.2%
2
2022
1.1%
2
2022
3.1%
3 A
2015
References:
  1. 1. China Adult Tobacco Survey 2022 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276 2. Calculation based on population size data of people over 15 years of age (16+). Source of population data: World Population Prospects 2019 [Internet]. United Nations; 2019. (Department of Economic and Social Affairs, editor. Population Division). Report No.: Rev. 1. Available from: https://population.un.org/wpp/Download/Standard/Population/
  2. China Adult Tobacco Survey 2022 cited in WHO. (2025). WHO global report on trends in prevalence of tobacco use 2000–2024 and projections 2025–2030 (6th edn). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240116276
  3. Feng, G., Nan, Y. and Jiang, Y., 2018, January. Prevalence of e-cigarette in China: preliminary findings from two surveys. In TOBACCO INDUCED DISEASES (Vol. 16, pp. 102-102).
Comments:
  1. Data of 2015 China Adult Tobacco Survey (CATS) and International Tobacco Control Policy Evaluation Project China Survey (ITC China Survey) were analyzed to describe rate of awareness and prevalence on e-cigarette. 2015 CATS is a nationally representative cross-sectional survey of adults aged 15 and over. ITC China survey is a cohort study designed to measure the impact of tobacco control policies on tobacco users over time.

Regulation

Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Allowed 1A
2022 Allowed 1B
References:
  1. Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/
  2. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction China. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/china/e-cigarettes/main-policies. Accessed: 23 July 2026.
Yes
2
References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction China. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/china/e-cigarettes/main-policies. Accessed: 23 July 2026.
  2. Data cross-referenced where possible using the following sources :1. Vapetrotter website. Available at: https://www.vapetrotter.com/laws/ ; 2. Global tobacco control website. Available at:https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/node/14052 ; 3. Tobacco Control Laws website. Available at : https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/

Availability

References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction China. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/china/e-cigarettes/main-policies. Accessed: 23 July 2026.

Regulations and restrictions

YES
1
2022
YES
1
2022
YES
1
2022
Yes: 18 years
Year Value Reference/Comment
2022 YES 2A
2025 YES 2B A
References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction China. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/china/e-cigarettes/main-policies. Accessed: 23 July 2026.
  2. https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/tobaccocontrol/early/2024/01/24/tc-2023-058312.full.pdf
Comments:
  1. STMA notice creates mandatory flavor registration and restricts flavor descriptors; limits each brand to max 5 registered profiles.. In force
20 mg/ml
1
2022
YES
References:
  1. Tobacco Control Laws. Legislation by Country/Jurisdiction China. Available at: https://www.tobaccocontrollaws.org/legislation/china/e-cigarettes/main-policies. Accessed: 23 July 2026.
  2. https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/tobaccocontrol/early/2024/01/24/tc-2023-058312.full.pdf
Comments:
  1. STMA notice creates mandatory flavor registration and restricts flavor descriptors; limits each brand to max 5 registered profiles.. In force

Perception of harm

References:
  1. Wang, X., Zhang, X., Xu, X., and Gao, Y. (2019). Perceptions and use of electronic cigarettes among young adults in China. Tobacco Induced Diseases, 17(March), 17. https://doi.org/10.18332/tid/102788
Comments:
  1. This survey relates to young adults 19-29 years old only. The question of harm was NOT relative to cigarettes. Q. Is vaping harmful to users 28% yes, 28% no, 44% dont know. Results varied a little between smokers, ex-smokers and never smokers.
The GSTHR database is updated regularly by our team. However, please be aware that the information we provide does not constitute legal advice. We cannot guarantee that the information is up to date or accurate, as the regulatory status of different product categories can change at short notice and with little publicity. If you wish to check the legal status of use or possession of any safer nicotine product in a specific country or region, you should verify the information independently. If you have reason to think that the information supplied on the GSTHR is inaccurate, please contact us with details and any references and we will rectify any errors.