Smoking rates have halved in the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District.
New figures from Health Stats NSW showed that in 2015, 10 per cent of people in the district smoked daily.
This was compared to 20.3 per cent in 2002.
The decline was driven by younger people in the 16-24 and 25-34 age groups, with the most significant fall among 35-44 year-olds – dropping more than 14 per cent since 2003.
Director of Planning Population Health and Equity, Julie Dixon, says it was positive news in time for World No Tobacco Day, on May 31.
“Quitting smoking is by far the best thing you can do for your health,” she said.
“It can reduce your risk of many smoking related diseases, improve your general well-being and that of your family and save you money.”
But she says while the figures for smoking are low across the state, there are groups in the community who have higher levels.
“We will continue to make a concerted effort to help people in these groups, including people with severe mental illness, Aboriginal people and some groups within the culturally and linguistically diverse community,” she said.