Data released by the Federal Institute for Public Health (BIÖG) on Tuesday from the 2025 Drug Affinities Study indicates a renewed increase in the percentage of young people in Germany who smoke or vape.
According to the study, in 2025, almost one in ten teenagers aged 12 to 17 smoked (9.6 percent), a noticeable rise from the 6.1 percent recorded in 2021. This trend contrasts with the long-term decline in smoking among young adults. Furthermore, the data highlights that girls, in particular, are smoking at significantly higher rates than they were five years ago. Conversely, within the 18-to-25 age group, the smoking rate actually dropped from 29.8 percent in 2021 to 26.3 percent in 2025.
The trend of vaping is also on the rise among young people, marked by a significant increase in the consumption of disposable e-cigarettes. Among youth, the share of consumers increased from 2.9 percent to 6.7 percent for adolescent males, and from 1.8 percent to 7.8 percent for adolescent females since 2021. Young adults also showed heightened consumption: in young men aged 18 to 25, the usage climbed from 6.9 percent in 2021 to 13.3 percent in 2025, while for young women, it rose from 4.7 percent to 11.9 percent.
Nicotine pouches are also gaining popularity, despite their sales being prohibited in Germany. In 2025, 5.5 percent of adolescents and 18.9 percent of young adults reported having tried these products. This reflects an increase from 4.1 percent among teenagers and 14.8 percent among young adults in 2023.
Hendrik Streeck (CDU), the Federal Government’s Commissioner for Drugs, labelled the study “a clear warning signal”. Streeck stated that teenagers are smoking and vaping more frequently, and that nicotine products are becoming easier to see, more easily available, and are often targeted specifically towards youth. He emphasized that preventative action is necessary, advocating for stringent regulations concerning ingredients, flavors, advertising, and packaging. Streeck called for a ban on health-damaging and youth-appealing flavors, asserting that nicotine should not be presented to young people through flavor profiles or design, and that nicotine pouches should not be sold in Germany.
