Abstract: Objective To estimate the social economic burden caused by fatal hand,foot and mouth disease (HFMD) cases in China during 2013-2015.Methods The human capital approach was used in evaluating the lost productivity due to premature death (expressed as present value of lifetime earnings) caused by HFMD in different age groups.The social economic burden was calculated by using the expenditure data during treatment of fatal cases reported in previous study and related data reported through national notifiable communicable disease surveillance system during 2013-2015.In sensitivity analysis,different discount rates were used to analyze the social economic burden.Results There were 252,501 and 129 fatal HFMD cases reported in China during 2013-2015.Most cases were males and aged 1-3 years.The lost productivity due to fatal HFMD cases (stratified by age and gender) ranged from 551 to 955 thousand yuan (RMB) per case and the social economic burden was ranged from 565 to 970 thousand yuan (RMB) during 2013-2015.The overall lost productivity were 144.9,311.6 and 83.2 million yuan (RMB) and the social economic burden were 148.6,319.0,85.1 million yuan (RMB).The lost productivity and social economic burden increased by 2.0 times when the discount rate was 0 and decreased by 47.2% and 46.1% when the discount rate was 5%.Conclusion The economic burden caused by HFMD was heavy in China,it is necessary to take effective measure,such as vaccination,for the prevention and control of HFMD.