Abstract: Objective To understand the characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) patients registered in the tuberculosis management information system (TBMIS). Methods The registration data of TB patient from 2004 to 2013 were collected from TBMIS to conduct descriptive and comparative analysis. Results The TB and smear positive registration rates showed upward and downward trends from 2004 to 2013. The annual TB registration rate declined by 3.62% from 2008 to 2013, and the annual smear positive registration rate declined by 6.33% from 2005 to 2013. In 2013, a total of 855 307 TB cases were registered in China with a registration rate of 62.86/100 000. Among these cases, 312 071 were smear positive and the registration rate was 22.93/100 000. The new smear positive case number was higher in males than in females in all age group except age group 0-14 years and the male to female ratio of the cases increased with age. The proportions of new smear positive cases were high in age groups >65, 55-64 years and 45-54 years and increased with year. Conclusion The TB registration rate showed an upward trend before 2008 and a downward trend after 2008. The registration rate was higher in males than in females The case number in middle aged and old people was high.