Abstract: Objective To understand the morality and death causes in residents in Dali prefecture, Yunnan province in 2014 and provide evidence for disease prevention and control. Methods The mortality rate, death cause constituent, life expectancy and the potential years of life lost (PYLL) in local residents were analyzed. Results The crude mortality rate was 585.83/100000 and the standardized mortality rate was 601.08/100 000. The mortality rate in males (685.49/100000) was higher than that in females (521.25/100 000) (2=383.56,P0.001). The first five leading death cause were circulatory system diseases, respiratory diseases, cancer, injury/poisoning and digestive diseases. The deaths caused by these diseases accounted for 89.00% of the total. The first PYLL in whole population was injury and poisoning, but the first PYLL in females was circulatory system diseases. The life expectancy in residents in Dali was 77.08 years, and it was 74.46 years in males and 79.94 years in females. Conclusion The main causes of death in Dali residents was chronic non-communicable diseases. Injury and poisoning were the major death causes in young adults. The death causes varied in different age groups, it is necessary to carry out targeted health education and behavioral intervention in different age groups.