US teens are smoking and vaping less than their peers abroad

Middle school and high school students in the United States are smoking and vaping less than their peers in other countries, according to a recent survey by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The 2025 National Youth Tobacco Survey, released in July 2026, found that smoking among American youth is at a historic low, with just 1.4% currently smoking.

By contrast, in 1997, 36% of high school students were reported to be smoking, and 70% had tried smoking at least once. The use of nicotine vapes, or e-cigarettes, also fell to 5.2% in 2025, the lowest it has been since its peak in 2019. However, the use of nicotine pouches, which have risen over the past five years, remains relatively low at 1.7%.

Public health researchers found that while smoking has declined substantially among young people in the U.S., vaping poses risks depending on the substances used in e-liquids. The FDA continues to approve new vaping products, some of which can pose risks to heart, circulatory, lung and oral health. Compared to countries like Canada, Germany, the Netherlands and the U.K., the U.S. has a notably lower rate of e-cigarette use among young people, according to the World Health Organization's 2024 report.