New figures from the Department of Health show that the average adult, aged 19 to 64 years, consumes 8.1g of salt per day.
This is significantly lower than the 9.5g of salt that was typically consumed each day in 2000-01, with the UK's salt reduction policy clearly having an effect over the past decade.
But the level is still well above the maximum intake of 6g that health experts say we should limit ourselves to in order to prevent ill-health.
At the current reduced level of salt consumption, experts say the UK should have 20,000 fewer cases of stroke, heart attack and heart failure each year, including 8,500 fewer deaths.
But the country could see 17,000 fewer deaths if the 6g target was achieved.
Graham MacGregor, professor of cardiovascular medicine at the Wolfson Institute and chairman of the campaign group Consensus Action on Salt and Health (Cash), said: "This 1.5g reduction in salt intake shows progress is happening, but there is still a very long way to go.
"We urge catering companies to reduce the unnecessarily high amount of salt they add to our food."
Katharine Jenner, Cash's campaign director, said it is not surprising that we still eat too much salt, as you can consume "huge amounts" if you eat out.
"For instance, a breakfast egg and bacon roll, steak pie for lunch, a snack of a blueberry muffin and pepperoni pizza for dinner could add up to over 13g when eating out, compared to just over 5g when bought from a supermarket," she revealed.
The government figures also reveal that women are doing a better job of cutting their salt intake than men, with the average female consuming just 6.8g of salt per day, compared with 9.3g for the average males.
Victoria Taylor, senior dietician at the British Heart Foundation, observed that women are known to take advantage of food labels, which could be helping them to avoid salty foods, but that men "might need more help in the supermarket".
