To explore the esophageal cancer (EC) incidence and mortality trends and risk factors in China during [2005][2006][2007][2008][2009][2010][2011][2012][2013][2014][2015]. Materials and Methods: The data were stratified by area (urban, rural), gender (male, female), and age groups (0 ~, 5 ~, …, 85 ~). The age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and mortality rate (ASMR), age-specific incidence and mortality were calculated to describe the trends, which were analyzed by Joinpoint software, negative binomial regression model, and age-period-cohort model. Results: Trends in EC ASIR decreased markedly during 2010-2015 (APC=−6.14%, P<0.05), and the average annual percent change (AAPC) value was −8.07% (95% confidence interval (CI): −9.98~−6.12) for rural areas during 2005-2015. The ASMR was on a fastdownward trend after 2011 (APC=−6.67%, P<0.05), with AAPC values of −1.34% (95% CI: −2.56~−0.19) for males, −3.39% (95% CI: −5.65, −1.07) for females, and −9.67% (95% CI: −10.56~−8.77) for rural areas during 2005-2015. The age-specific incidence and mortality increased with age. The risk of EC for males was 3.1675 times higher than females (P<0.001), and for urban areas, it was 0.58 times larger than rural (P<0.001). The age and period effects presented an increasing trend, with a decreasing trend for the cohort effects in incidence and mortality risk. Later birth cohorts presented lower risks than previous birth cohorts. Conclusion: ASIR and ASMR in China are higher in males than females, and higher in rural than urban areas, which have decreased during 2005-2015, especially in rural areas. The incidence increased with age up to the peak age group of 75. Area, gender, and age were independent risk factors for EC incidence.