NSW health authorities say they are happy with the state's increasing organ donation rate, despite it still lagging behind South Australia, the ACT, Victoria and Queensland.

The NSW Organ and Tissue Donation Service (OTDS) says it is encouraged by data from the Australia and New Zealand Organ Donation Registry (ANZOD) which shows donations in the state hit a 15-year high in 2009.

NSW OTDS medical director Dr Deepak Bhonagiri said the increase from 57 donors in 2008 to 69 in 2009 was the highest recorded level since 1994.

"Organ donor rates have returned to the figures we were achieving in the early 1990s and we are pleased to have sustained an increase in organ donors for the last two years," Dr Bhonagiri said in a statement.

ANZOD chair Professor Graeme Russ said Australia had 247 donors in 2009, compared with an annual average of 205 since 2000.

"The figures continue the momentum achieved in 2008 and are one of the highest since transplantation began in Australia more than 40 years ago," Prof Russ said.

However, he said NSW remained behind South Australia, the ACT, Victoria and Queensland in organ donation rates, with the number of donors per capita in the state ahead of only Tasmania, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

The need for an increased organ donations is shown by the 1,770 patients - including 1,310 for kidneys - on waiting lists as at January 4, compared with 1,716 at the start of 2009.

Health authorities are urging people to let relatives know about their plans to donate organs after they die to ensure they consent.

"Families need to know each other's wishes about organ and tissue donation because, even if you are registered as a donor, your next of kin is still asked to give consent for donation to take place," NSW OTDS communications manager Kerry McKay said.