Abstract: Objective The study was conducted to analyze the health status and deaths caused by major diseases of residents in Luwan District, Shanghai, providing scientific basis for the government departments to formulate health planning and disease prevention and control strategy. Methods Data of deaths and demography surveillance in Luwan District, Shanghai in 2005 were statistically analyzed and categorized according to the International Classification of Diseases ICD-10 criteria. The constitution of national population in 2000 was used for calculating the standardized rate. The rates of YPLL of various diseases were further calculated. Results The top five causes of death of residents in Luwan District in 2005 were circulatory system diseases, tumors, respiratory diseases, injury and poisoning, and nutrition and endocrine metabolic diseases, with the mortality of 334.95/lakh, 254.10/lakh, 105.20/lakh, 45.58/lakh, and 43.39/lakh, respectively. YPLL analysis showed that malignancies, injury and poisoning, and circulatory diseases were the major factors affecting the increase of life expectancy of residents in Luwan District. Conclusion Chronic non-communicable diseases and injury and poisoning have become seriously affecting factors to the health of residents in Luwan District. The health branches should make greater efforts to further strengthen the focus on the prevention and control work of these regards in future.