Abstract: Objective To understand the sex and age specific burden of neonatal diseases in China from 1990 to 2010,and provide evidence for the prevention and control of neonatal diseases. Methods Results of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010 (GBD 2010) were used to present the sex and age specific burden of neonatal diseases in China from 1990 to 2010, i.e. the incidence, mortality, years of life lost due to premature mortality (YLL), years lived with disability (YLD), disability-adjusted life years (DALY), and their age-standardized rates calculated according to the standard population data in China in 2010. Results The incidence, mortality and other disease burden indicators of neonatal diseases in age group 1 year declined in China from 1990 to 2010. The cases, incidence, deaths, mortality, DALY, DALY rate, YLL, YLL rate, YLD, and YLD rate declined by 42.18%, 15.55%, 75.76%, 64.60%, 75.70%, 64.50%, 75.76%, 64.60 %, 48.21% and 24.37%, respectively. The incidence, mortality and other disease burden indicators were higher in males than in females in 2010. Compared with 1990, the incidence of preterm birth complications increased, but the mortality and other disease burden indicators declined in all age groups. The infants aged 0-6 days were still the high risk group. The disease burden indicators of neonatal encephalopathy showed a downward trend. The incidence and YLD rate of neonatal sepsis and other infectious diseases in age group 0-6 days increased by 14.04% and 14.33%. Conclusion Reporting sex and age specific disease burden can more accurately reflect the impact of neonatal diseases on infants and facilitate the targeted prevention and control.