BackgroundChinese citizens regularly experience some form of bodily pain, yet little is known regarding the epidemiology of pain.MethodsWe conducted a nationally representative sample cross sectional study to estimate the prevalence of pain and identify risk factors of pain among 19,665 community residents aged 18–65 years in China. The China Sub-optimal Health Survey (CSHS) data was used to estimate pain prevalence. Body pain was also estimated by self-reports from the sample population. A logistical regression model was applied to estimate the odds ratio and 95 % CIs of acute pain and chronic pain to explore the potential risk factors.ResultsWomen had a higher prevalence of pain than men (39.92 vs. 32.17 % for chronic pain). The prevalence of pain increased with age (29.72 % for ages 18–25 vs. 42.23 % for ages 45–65). The most common complaints were head, neck/shoulder, and waist/back pain. Females (OR 1.57, 95 % CI 1.44–1.71) ages 25 or older (25–45: OR 1.19, 95 % CI 1.04–1.36; 45–65: OR 1.47, 95 % CI 1.26–1.73) were more likely to report having chronic pain. Subjects’ living areas, and their drinking status (OR 1.32, 95 % CI 1.13–1.53) or smoking status (OR 1.01, 95 % CI 0.91–1.11), were also factors that were significantly associated with increased reporting of chronic pain.ConclusionWomen had a higher prevalence of chronic pain than men, although both sexes had a high prevalence for chronic pain. There were significant differences between the two sexes and the location of chronic pain in the body, most notably in the shoulders, stomach, abdomen, and waist.