Youth smoking rates in Victoria have hit their lowest point since records began more than 20 years ago, according to results from a new survey.

Releasing the survey results, Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said they showed Victorian youth smoking rates in 12 to 17-year-olds had decreased from 21 per cent to 11 per cent over the past six years (1999–2005).

'In 1999, it was estimated just under 73,800 Victorian students aged 12 to 17 smoked around 2,069,700 cigarettes in a week—that's an average of 28 cigarettes a week per teenage smoker.

'Current research indicates that, in 2005, Victoria had about 42,000 students aged 12 to 17 smoking just over 1,061,000 cigarettes in a week.

'It's still way too much but it's also a significant reduction.'

Ms Pike said the findings should also finally dispel the popular myth that more girls were smoking with the proportion of 12 to 15-year-old female smokers more than halving to eight per cent—a drop of nine per cent—since 1999.

The proportion of 16 to 17-year-old female smokers dropped to 20 per cent—a reduction of 13 per cent—over the same period.

Ms Pike said in the past seven years, the Government had introduced a range of tobacco reforms to reduce youth smoking rates.

'Since 1999, we have introduced strict laws on cigarette sales to minors, restricted tobacco advertising, increased bans on smoking in public spaces and funded mass anti-tobacco campaigns.

'Victoria was also the first state to prohibit smoking at under-age music and dance events, as well as prohibit the sale, display and promotion of tobacco at these events.'

Ms Pike said the survey also revealed a significant decrease in younger students who perceived smokers as more popular than non-smokers.

'The majority of students, regardless of their smoking status and age, did not believe smokers were more popular than non-smokers.'

Ms Pike said while the decline in youth smoking was promising, the figures are still too high.

'Tobacco remains the risk factor associated with the greatest burden of disease in Victoria, responsible for almost 4,000 deaths each year and costs the Victorian community over $5 billion annually in health care and social costs.

'The Government has done significant work to address this burden and will continue to invest in this important area.'