Estimating global refillable vaper numbers faces significant data challenges due to inconsistent definitions, reporting mechanisms, and rapid market evolution. Industry stakeholders primarily reference “open-system” devices to approximate refillable vapers. Available evidence points to the following:
Key Global Estimates
- Market Share: Refillable/open-system vapes represent an estimated 15% to 25% of the global vaping market by retail value (excluding China).
- Regional Variance: Europe and the UK demonstrate higher open-system adoption relative to North America, where disposables dominate market share. The UK consistently reports adult open-system usage around 8.3% of adult vapers.
- Informed Calculations: Based on established vaping prevalence figures (approx. 82 million adults globally in 2021, growing) and open-system market share, a conservative estimate suggests between 12 million and 20 million adults use refillable/open-system devices globally. This range remains fluid.
Factors Influencing Adoption
Several dynamics impact these figures:
- Cost Efficiency: Refillable systems offer long-term cost savings over disposables/pre-filled pods.
- Regulatory Pressure: Bans/restrictions on disposables in regions like the EU and UK are shifting usage towards refillable systems.
- Availability & Awareness: Device/pod availability varies significantly; consumer understanding of refillable options impacts adoption.
Important Caveats
Data Limitations: Comprehensive national or global datasets specifically tracking “refillable vapers” are scarce. Most robust surveys categorize devices used rather than tracking persistent “refillable vaper” identities. Market research firms provide estimates, but methodologies vary.
Definitional Clarity: “Refillable” must be distinguished from reusable devices with pre-filled pods/cartridges (closed systems). This analysis focuses on open systems where users fill tanks/pods with separate e-liquid.
Conclusion: While pinpointing an exact figure is impossible, consensus indicates refillable/open-system vapers constitute a significant minority of the global vaping market, likely numbering between 12 million and 20 million adults worldwide. This segment’s growth is heavily influenced by regional regulations targeting disposable products and consumer preference for customization and economy.
