Background The effect of renal biopsy on the prognosis of elderly patients with chronic kidney disease remains unclear. Thus, in this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between renal biopsy and renal survival in this population.Methods In this multi-centre retrospective study, the baseline characteristics among three groups were balanced by propensity matching. All patients were divided into three groups according to age and renal biopsy. The clinicopathological features at biopsy and renal outcomes during the follow-up were collected and analysed. Renal outcomes were defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate < 15 mL/min/1.73 m2, dialysis, renal transplantation, or death. The prognostic effects of renal biopsy were evaluated using Cox regression models. Results A total of 1313 patients were identified. After propensity matching, 390 patients were selected and divided into three groups. After a total follow-up period of 55 months, 20 (13.3%) patients (47.6% group 1 vs 7.41% group 2 vs 39.1% group 3) reached renal outcomes. No significant differences were found in renal outcomes among aged patients whether they underwent renal biopsy or not. Cox regression analysis revealed risk factors in aged patients including low albumin and high levels of proteinuria and serum creatinine (P < 0.05). Platelet count was significant only in aged patients who underwent renal biopsy (hazard ratio: 0.642, P < 0.05). Conclusion In conclusion, renal biopsy in the elderly has not shown benefits in terms of renal survival, conservative treatment appears to be a viable therapeutic option in the management of those people.