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Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
United States Background
Profile
United States Flag
Cigarettes
Traditional Smokeless
HTP
E-cigarettes
Snus
Pouches
NRT
Data sourced: 2023.   Page updated: 2025-11-05

In the United States, regulations around e-cigarettes vary by state. Generally, based on federal laws, these products are allowed and regulated as tobacco products. Regulations include requirements for child-resistant and tamperproof containers, and health warnings on packaging. All e-cigarette packaging must display the statement: “WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.” There is no federal minimum age restriction on sales, although many states set their own age limits, typically 21 years.
Statistics show that e-cigarette use is widespread in the United States. As of 2020, there were an estimated 9.1 million current vapers in the country. The adult current vaping prevalence was estimated to be 4.5% as of 2021, and this was 4% among women and 5.1% among men. Around 4.3 million people were daily vapers as of 2020, and the adult daily vaping prevalence was reported to be 1.33%. Daily vaping prevalence was slightly higher among adult men (1.74%) compared to adult women (0.99%). Overall, 17% of people in the U.S. reported having ever tried an e-cigarette in 2020. Public perception of harm by e-cigarettes varies — in 2017, 36.4% of adults believed e-cigarettes were equally as harmful as cigarettes, 33.9% considered them less harmful, 4.3% viewed them as more harmful, and 25.3% had no idea about it.

Prevalence

9.1 million
1 A
2020
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 3.2% 2A
2020 5% 2B
2020 3.7% 2C A
2020 3.7% 2D B
2021 4.5% 2E
2023 9.6% 2F
References:
  1. Wang, T. W. Tobacco Product Use Among Adults — United States, 2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 67, (2018).
  2. Al Rifai M, et al. Abstract 1209-110. Presented at: American College of Cardiology Scientific Session; March 28-30, 2020 (virtual meeting).
  3. WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-usa.pdf?sfvrsn=c846c88a_3&download=true. Accessed: 8 August 2025.
  4. National Health Interview Survey 2020 (NHIS). https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/2020nhis.htm
  5. Kramarow, E. A., & Elgaddal, N. (2023). Current Electronic Cigarette Use Among Adults Aged 18 and Over: United States, 2021. National Health Interview Survey 2021 (No. 475; NCHS Data Brief). U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics.
  6. National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) 2023 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. Adults survey: National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), 2020; National, ages 18+
  2. Published on https://rodutobaccotruth.blogspot.com/2021/10/cdc-releases-2020-adult-smoking-vaping.html?m=1&s=03
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2020 2.8% 2A A
2020 2.77% 2B B
2021 4% 2C
2023 9% 2D
References:
  1. WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-usa.pdf?sfvrsn=c846c88a_3&download=true. Accessed: 8 August 2025.
  2. National Health Interview Survey 2020 (NHIS). https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/2020nhis.htm
  3. Kramarow, E. A., & Elgaddal, N. (2023). Current Electronic Cigarette Use Among Adults Aged 18 and Over: United States, 2021. National Health Interview Survey 2021 (No. 475; NCHS Data Brief). U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics.
  4. National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) 2023 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. Adults survey: National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), 2020; National, ages 18+
  2. Published on https://rodutobaccotruth.blogspot.com/2021/10/cdc-releases-2020-adult-smoking-vaping.html?m=1&s=03
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2020 4.6% 2A A
2020 4.55% 2B B
2021 5.1% 2C
2023 10.4% 2D
References:
  1. WHO. WHO report on the global tobacco epidemic, 2023. Available at: https://cdn.who.int/media/docs/default-source/country-profiles/tobacco/gtcr-2023/tobacco-2023-usa.pdf?sfvrsn=c846c88a_3&download=true. Accessed: 8 August 2025.
  2. National Health Interview Survey 2020 (NHIS). https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/2020nhis.htm
  3. Kramarow, E. A., & Elgaddal, N. (2023). Current Electronic Cigarette Use Among Adults Aged 18 and Over: United States, 2021. National Health Interview Survey 2021 (No. 475; NCHS Data Brief). U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Health Statistics.
  4. National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) 2023 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. Adults survey: National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), 2020; National, ages 18+
  2. Published on https://rodutobaccotruth.blogspot.com/2021/10/cdc-releases-2020-adult-smoking-vaping.html?m=1&s=03
4.3 million
1 A
2020
1.33%
1 A
2020
0.99%
1 A
2020
1.74%
1 A
2020
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 15.3% 1A A
2020 17.01% 1B A
References:
  1. 1. Wang TW, Asman K, Gentzke AS, et al. Tobacco Product Use Among Adults - United States, 2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:1225-1232. 2. Bao W, Xu G, Lu J, Snetselaar LG, Wallace RB. (2018) Changes in Electronic Cigarette Use Among Adults in the United States, 2014-2016. JAMA. 319(19):2039-2041. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.4658
  2. National Health Interview Survey 2020 (NHIS). https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/2020nhis.htm
Comments:
  1. 1. Data for current use is from the 2017 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). Sample includes adults 18 and over. NHIS is an annual, nationally representative, in-person survey of the non-institutionalized U.S. civilian population. The 2017 Sample Adult component included 26,742 adults. A Gallop poll in 2018 showed a far higher prevalence of current adult vapers (9% total; 2% regular and 7% occasional) 2. Data for 'ever tried/vaped' was used from 2017 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) as reported by Bao et al. (2018)
  2. Published on https://rodutobaccotruth.blogspot.com/2021/10/cdc-releases-2020-adult-smoking-vaping.html?m=1&s=03
References:
  1. National Health Interview Survey 2020 (NHIS). https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis/2020nhis.htm
  2. National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) 2023 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

Regulation

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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Allowed
2021 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. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=153. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Yes
2021 Yes 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. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=153. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=153. Accessed: 24 July 2025.

Availability

References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=153. Accessed: 24 July 2025.

Regulations and restrictions

YES
YES
1
2021
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier YES
2021 YES 1A A
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=153. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
Comments:
  1. Packaging must bear the following warning statement: “WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.”
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Year Value Reference/Comment
2017 or earlier Yes: 18 years
2021 Yes: 21 years 1A
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=153. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
NO
YES
References:
  1. Global Tobacco Control. Country Laws Regulating E-Cigarettes. Available at: https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/en/policy-scan/e-cigarettes/countries?country=153. Accessed: 24 July 2025.
Comments:
  1. Packaging must bear the following warning statement: “WARNING: This product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.”

Perception of harm

References:
  1. Huang J, Feng B, Weaver SR, Pechacek TF, Slovic P, Eriksen MP. Changing Perceptions of Harm of e-Cigarette vs Cigarette Use Among Adults in 2 US National Surveys From 2012 to 2017. JAMA Netw Open. Published online March 29, 20192(3):e191047. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.1047
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.