The number of smokers in Ireland has fallen from 20% of the population last year to 17% this year.
The figure is featured in the latest Healthy Ireland Survey, which offers an annual snapshot of the health of Irish people.
Over the past five years, smoking rates have fallen from 23% to 17% - an estimated 165,000 fewer smokers than there were in 2015.
It shows that smoking rates remain highest among those aged 25 to 34 (26%), while rates are also higher in more deprived areas (24%) than in more affluent areas (14%).
According to the survey, 46% of those who smoked in the past year made an attempt to quit during the past 12 months - with 25% of those attempts to quit said to have been successful.
Elsewhere, the survey shows that 60% of people are overweight or obese.
Only 46% of people (54% of men and 38% of women) are achieving the minimum recommended weekly level of physical activity - with time restrictions identified as the key barrier to increasing the level of activity.
In terms of sleep, respondents to the survey reported an average of 7.1 hours of sleep on a typical weeknight.
76% of people, meanwhile, rated the quality of sleep over the past month as either 'good' or 'very good'.
Reacting to the findings, Kate O'Flaherty from the Department of Health said strict laws around smoking seem to be working.
She explained: "The workplace ban... legislation banning smoking in cars where there's children... two years ago we brought in plain packaging.
"People are certainly responding to it - they see the warning pictures, and it makes them think about smoking and about quitting."
On the subject of the obesity statistics, Ms O'Flaherty added: "People who are overweight or obese are at huge risk of chronic diseases - from diabetes to heart disease to some cancers and dementia.
"It is a cause for concern - the thing is now how do we in the coming years turn the tide on overweight and obesity, the way we are seeing that turning on smoking."
