The latest survey by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) of Ireland shows that vape use among 18- 34-year-olds is 23.6%, with the highest rate of traditional smoking (13.3%) in the middle-aged 45-54 age group. The survey also found that the 18-24 year old group had an optimal mental health self-assessment of only 50.8%, and cannabis use was as high as 22%, reflecting health risks of concern for the youth group.
Core Points to Watch:
- Current status of vape use: The 18-34 year old youth group had the highest rates of vape use, with daily use at 13.6% and occasional use at 10%. 7.1% of adults across Ireland use vapes daily.
- Traditional smoking: highest daily prevalence of 13.3% in the middle-aged group aged 45-54 years. 10% of adults aged 18 years and over smoke tobacco products daily.
- Self-assessment of health: 35-44 year olds rated their health the best, with 81.6% rating it as ‘good or very good’. 75+ year olds rated their health the worst, with only 61.9% rating it as good. The Dublin and South East HSE area had the best self-assessed health (78.5%).
Irish health survey: Vape use climbs among youth
According to a July 11 report by The Irish Times. The latest figures show that nearly a quarter of adults aged 18 to 34 smoke vapes on a daily or occasional basis.
The results of the Irish Health Survey 2024, released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on July 11, show that more than three-quarters of adults in 2024 consider their general health to be “good or very good”. This is highest among 35 to 44-year-olds at 81.6% and lowest among those aged 75 and over at 61.9%.
E-cigarette use among 18-34-year-olds reaches 24%
Regarding smoking and vape use, about 10% of adults aged 18 and older smoked tobacco products daily and 7.1% used vapes daily. The highest percentage of daily smokers was found among those aged 45 to 54 years, at 13.3%, and the highest percentage of those aged 18 to 34 years used vapes daily (13.6%) or occasionally (10%).
Regionally, the proportion of people aged 18 years and over who rated their health as good was highest in the Dublin and South East Health Service Executive (HSE) area at 78.5% and lowest in the Dublin and Central HSE area at 72.5%.
Traditional smoking
The proportion of adults who considered their mental health to be good or very good was slightly lower, at just under 71%. This was lowest for 18-24 year olds at 50.8% and highest for those aged 65 and over at 83.7%.
The survey found that nearly 8 percent of adults had used marijuana in the past 12 months, with more than one in five (22 percent) among 18- to 24-year-olds.
Self-assessment of health
Nearly one in five adults provides care or assistance at least once a week to a person who needs care due to an age-related problem, chronic health condition, or frailty. Of those who provide care or help, those aged 55 and over provide the most care on average at 38 hours per week.
The survey was conducted using a 100-question online questionnaire and a ‘small number’ of telephone interviews with around 5,101 adults. The data were collected in November and December 2024.
