ObjectiveTo investigate the status-quo of urban and rural residents' depression in the communities of Chengdu city and its influencing factors. MethodsA multi-stage stratified cluster sampling survey was carried out from February to October 2010. Residents aged from 35 to 70 years in 4 urban and rural communities of Chengdu were investigated in the incidence of depression. The health survey questionnaire and PHQ-2 Depression Screening Scale were used for the household investigation. Data was analyzed using SPSS 18.0 software, and the risk factors were also analyzed using multivariate logistic methods. ResultsA total of 2 027 residents were interviewed, including 1 015 urban (616 women and 399 men, with mean age of 58.90 ±9.48 years) and 1 012 rural residents (582 women and 430 were men, with mean age of 54.94 ±9.64 years). The results showed that the overall depression prevalence rate of residents aged from 35 to70 years old in Chengdu was 2.91% (59/2 027); and the prevalence was 4.33% (44/1 015) in urban and 1.48% (15/1 012) in rural. The prevalence was significantly higher in urban areas than that in rural areas (χ2=13.296, P < 0.001). The results of multivariate analysis showed that a significant difference was found in the prevalence of depression among the different marital status groups, and more divorced people suffered from depression. No statistically significant correlation was found between the factors (including occupation, education level and family income status) and depression. ConclusionThe prevalence of depression among residents in urban and rural communities of Chengdu was high, and the divorced population should be paid more attention to in the prevention and treatment of depression.