Background Several studies suggested association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and risk of cervical cancer in women. We investigated the risk of cervical cancer in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) using the nationwide population-based claims data in South Korea. Methods We analysed the claims data of the Korean National Health Insurance (2006–2015). UC and cervical cancer were defined using International Classification of Diseases-10 codes and UC-specific prescription. Age- and sex-matched individuals without UC (control group) were randomly selected from the general population. Hazard ratios (HRs), adjusted for different covariates, were calculated using multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression. Results In total, 30,546 and 88,829 individuals with UC and without UC, respectively, were enrolled. Cervical cancer developed in 26 (0.21%) among UC patients, and 51 (0.14%) among control group, respectively. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of cervical cancer in the UC and non-UC groups were 2.04(95% confidence interval [CI], 1.33–2.98), and 1.35(95% CI, 1.00–1.77). The HR of cervical cancer in UC group, with reference to the non-UC group, was 1.56 (95% CI, 0.97–2.50). Further, UC groups were stratified according to age (HR=9.89, 1.62, 0.79 and 3.65 for 0–19, 20–39, 40–59, and ≥60 years, respectively). HR was significantly higher for early-onset UC (0–19 years) and late-onset UC (≥60 years). Among UC, age≥40, low socioeconomic status, rural residence, cerebral vascular disease are risk factors for cervical cancer. Conclusion UC patients had an increased risk of cervical cancer, especially with early-onset (0–19 years) and late-onset (>59 years). Since cervical cancer incidence is higher in UC patients than in the general population, UC patients should receive the human papillomavirus vaccine prophylactically.