Objective To analyze the mortality of chronic respiratory disease and its changing trend in registered population in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, and provide evidence for the development of prevention and control measures.

Methods The mortality data of chronic respiratory diseases in Wenzhou from 2015 to 2022 were collected from the mortality surveillance platform of chronic disease surveillance information management system of Wenzhou, the crude mortality rate, standardized mortality rate, potential life lost year (PYLL), average years of life lost (AYLL), potential years of life lost rate (PYLLR), and average annual percent change (AAPC) of chronic respiratory disease were calculated.

Results A total of 28 468 deaths of chronic respiratory diseases were reported in Wenzhou from 2015 to 2022, with a crude mortality rate of 45.48/100 000 and a standardized mortality rate of 27.42/100 000. The crude mortality in men (56.44/100 000) was higher than that in women (33.76/100 000), the difference was significant (χ²=1767.49, P<0.001). There were decreasing trends in the overall standardized mortality rate (AAPC=−7.71%, P=0.006), the standardized mortality rate in men (AAPC=−6.35%, P=0.013), and the standardized mortality rate in women (AAPC=−11.034%, P=0.002). The decrease was more obvious in women than in men (P<0.050). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was the main cause of mortality of chronic respiratory diseases. The PYLL of chronic respiratory diseases was 26 781 person years, the AYLL was 0.94 person years and the PYLLR was 0.43‰. PYLLR showed a monotonically decreasing trend（AAPC=−3.77%, P=0.020）, with more obvious decrease in women than in men (P=0.013).

Conclusion The mortality rate of chronic respiratory diseases showed a downward trend in Wenzhou from 2015 to 2022, but the morality and disease burden were still severe, men are the key population in the prevention and control of chronic respiratory diseases, especially COPD.