Objective To analyze the death cause of residents in Zigong from 1985 to 2009, so as to provide the government with scientific information of health strategies, and disease prevention and control. Methods The death surveillance data in Zigong residents from 1985 to 2009 were collected, and the indexes such as all death mortality rate, infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, disease-specific mortality rate, age-specific mortality rate, and life expectancy were analyzed. Results The all death mortality rate had fluctuation of plus or minus 6‰, and the male mortality rate was higher than the female (χ2=8 059.769, P=0.000). The six main influencing factors of the death of Zigong residents were as follows: respiratory system diseases, circulatory system diseases, tumour, injury and poisoning regarded as external cause diseases, digestive system diseases, and infectious diseases and parasitic diseases. The mortality rates of different districts were statistically different (χ2=1 643.926, P=0.000), and Fushun County was the highest among them after standardization. The curve of mortality rate in different sex and age groups was changed alike letter “U”. The mortality rate was ascending with the age in the group of over 15 years old, the ascending trend was more evident especially after 50 years old. The infant mortality declined steadily and was well controlled. The maternal mortality declined obviously. The average life expectancy for the whole city was 74.72, which showed an ascending trend. Conclusion The chronic diseases are the main death cause of residents in Zigong. The prevention and controlling of acute infectious diseases and parasitic diseases should be persistently performed for declining both incidence rate and mortality rate. The Zigong city is gradually stepping into aging society, which requires the great development of senior work.