Haringey has highest smoking rate in London
New data from the Office for National Statistics shows a significant rise in e-cigarette use among young adults.
Trust 62Craft 67Hype 15How this was reported ▾
Uses ONS data with dates and figures, but no named person source.
How well corroborated and evidenced the reporting is. Higher is better.
Clear facts with specific data, but lacks quotes or next‑step info.
Context, balance and separation of fact from comment. Higher is better.
Headline factual, body data‑driven, no sensational language.
How far presentation runs ahead of substance. Lower is better.
1 source assessed · methodology
Haringey has been identified as the London borough with the highest proportion of smokers, with 18.8% of its adult population smoking in 2025. This figure places the North London borough at the top of the list for smoking rates within the capital, according to data reported by MyLondon.
E-cigarette use on the rise
Hundreds of homes plan sparks fears of 100 daily toxic‑waste lorries on Harrow Road
St William’s 789‑home scheme on the former Kensal Gasworks could see up to 100 waste‑laden trucks each day, prompting health‑impact worries from Brent councillors and local campaigners
The statistics, drawn from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), also highlight a significant increase in e-cigarette usage. In 2025, 16.4% of adults aged between 25 and 34 reported being current e-cigarette users. This represents a notable rise from previous years, with the proportion having increased from one in eight adults in 2024 and one in twelve in 2020. For younger adults, aged 16 to 24, e-cigarette usage stood at 12.9% in 2025. While this is a decrease from a peak of 15.9% in 2023, it remains almost double the 7.0% recorded in 2020.
Nationally, the ONS data indicates that an estimated 1.1 million people who have never smoked a cigarette are now regular vape users. Overall e-cigarette usage across all age groups aged 16 and over has reached 9.9%, surpassing the 8.7% of individuals who currently smoke cigarettes.
National smoking rates
Harrow residents face river pollution from misconnected home plumbing
A new enforcement officer will target illegal waste discharges on the Brent and Wandle, with Thames Water reporting dozens of active outfalls.
Beyond London, smoking rates vary considerably across the country. Brentwood in Essex recorded the lowest adult smoking rate nationwide in 2025, with just 0.7% of adults smoking. Other areas with low smoking rates include Mole Valley at 1.3%, the Shetland Islands at 2.1%, Broadland at 2.8%, and Harlow at 3.1%.
The data also revealed disparities in smoking prevalence based on housing tenure. Individuals renting from local authorities or housing associations were significantly more likely to smoke, with 23.2% reporting as smokers. This contrasts with 13.1% of private renters, 6.3% of those purchasing a home with a mortgage, and 5.9% of outright homeowners.
Questions this report answers
+Which London borough has the highest smoking rate?
Haringey has the highest smoking rate among London boroughs, with 18.8% of adults smoking in 2025. This data was reported by MyLondon, referencing figures from the Office for National Statistics.
+How many young adults are using e-cigarettes?
In 2025, 16.4% of adults aged 25 to 34 were current e-cigarette users, according to the Office for National Statistics. For those aged 16 to 24, the figure was 12.9%.
+What is the lowest smoking rate recorded in the country?
Brentwood recorded the lowest adult smoking rate in the country in 2025, with just 0.7% of adults smoking. This figure was part of broader data on smoking prevalence across Great Britain.
WE FILE
No invented reporter. No hidden source trail.
The HNL Local Desk assembled this report from the outlets listed below. Language-model drafting is reviewed under human editorial supervision, with scoring notes and corrections kept visible.
Harrow AM
The compact morning rundown, with scores and source links.
More Coverage in World
Hundreds of homes plan sparks fears of 100 daily toxic‑waste lorries on Harrow Road
Harrow residents face river pollution from misconnected home plumbing
