• 14% recorded as a smoker at their initial assessment (Maternity and Birth Statistics 2023) 

• 12% recorded as a smoker at birth (Maternity and Birth Statistics 2023) 
• Every year this equates to around 3,500 unborn babies being exposed to thousands of harmful chemicals, toxins and reduced oxygen levels before they’ve had the chance to take a breath.  

• 22.4% of adults from the most deprived areas of Wales smoke, compared to 6.6% among the least deprived Census 2021 

• 9% of homeowners smoke compared to 30% of those in social housing. ASH Wales Adult Population Survey 2024   

• The illegal tobacco volume market share in Wales is 10%, down from 12% in 2014.
• 4 out of 10 smokers in Wales have been offered illegal tobacco, with 9 out of 10 going on to try it.
• A quarter of smokers use illegal tobacco, which makes up 30% of their total consumption.
• The most common sources of illegal tobacco are private addresses (39%), followed by pubs/clubs and shops.
• 88,000 people in Wales are estimated to buy illegal tobacco.
• Illegal vapes are increasingly reported, with many exceeding the legal limit of 600 puffs, making them particularly attractive to young users.

All statistics are derived from the NEMS Wales Illegal Tobacco Study (2022), which surveyed adults and young people across Wales.

• More than 50% (160,000) of smokers say they would like to quit ASH Wales APS 2024   

• Less than 5% (16,441) of these smokers used Help Me Quit to stop smoking in 2023/24. (Smoking Cessation Stats Wales).  

• There is a sizeable proportion of adults in Wales who believe that vapes are just as harmful, or more harmful, than tobacco cigarettes. The percentage who feels this has grown from 25% in 2017, to 46% in 2024 – including 43% of smokers (ASH Wales YouGov Survey 2024).

• Nearly a quarter (24%) of al reported to have ever vaped 
• 7% were current vapers, rising to 13% of year 12 and 13. 
• More than half of all students who currently vape reported to be using vapes which are highly likely to be illegal and contain over 600 puffs (55%). 
• 37% of current vapers also report being current smokers. 

• Students who currently vape were twice as likely to live with a smoker or a vaper than students who had never vaped (66% vs 32%) 

• Nearly a half (45%) of all current vapers say they cannot go the whole school day without vaping. 
• More than a quarter (26%) of all current vapers said they would like to stop vaping. 

All stats from ASH Wales Youth Vaping Survey 2024

• 7% of 11 to 16-year-olds are current smokers, with 52% of these smoking daily (Public Health Wales, 2023).

• Among young smokers aged 11 to 21, 38% have tried illegal tobacco (ASH Wales Youth Vaping Survey, 2024).

• 41% of young smokers also report smoking cannabis (ASH Wales Youth Vaping Survey, 2024).

• Young smokers are twice as likely to come from homes where smoking is present compared to non-smokers (ASH Wales Youth Vaping Survey, 2024).

• Smoking is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Wales, projected to cause 15,200 cases over the next five years (Cancer Research UK, 2024).

• Cigarette smoke contains over 5,000 chemicals, with at least 70 known to cause cancer (U.S. Surgeon General. How Tobacco Smoke Causes Disease: The Biology and Behavioral Basis for Smoking-Attributable Disease. (2010).)