Abstract: ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between the death places and the socio-demographic feature, disease diagnosis, and residence area in China. MethodsBy using data from 2004 to 2005 national death survey, univariate and multivariate analysis were conducted to estimate the relationship between each variable and the probability of death in hospital. ResultsIn total, 868 484 death cases were analyzed, including 169 206 (19.48%) deaths in hospital and 699 278 (80.52%) deaths that occurred at home and at other places. The adjusted IOR/I for the death of men in hospital was 0.960 (95%ICI/I: 0.948-0.973).Younger people were more likely to die in hospital, so were married people, people with higher education level, people living in urban area and people in central China. Compared with workers, high-level government officials and clerks were more likely die in hospital (adjusted IOR/I=1.538, 95%ICI/I: 1.490-1.587). Farmers were more likely to die at home or at other places (adjusted IOR/I=0.196, 95%ICI/I: 0.192-0.200). Compared with cancer patients, patients with maternal/perinatal disease and congenital anomalies were more likely to die in hospital (adjusted IOR/I=2.501, 95%ICI/I: 2.363-2.646), whereas patients with psychiatric disorder and nervous system disorder (adjusted IOR/I=0.515, 95%ICI/I: 0.483-0.548) and chronic respiratory disease (adjusted IOR/I=0.837, 95%ICI/I: 0.818-0.855) were less likely to die in hospital. The proportions of deaths in hospital caused by other diseases were approximately the same. ConclusionThe probability of dying in hospital was higher among people with higher socioeconomic status. Patients with maternal/perinatal disease and congenital anomalies were more likely to die in hospital, and patients with psychiatric disorder, nervous system disorder, and chronic lower respiratory disease were less likely to die in hospital. The probability of dying in hospital was higher in central China. These results should be interpreted within the context of the local culture and health care systems.