Abstract: Objective To explore the trend of mortality and years of life lost due to gastric cancer in urban and rural area of Xiamen, so as to provide the basis data on preventing gastric cancer in Xiamen. Methods Data of residents in urban and rural area of Xiamen dying of gastric cancer during 2002 to 2013 were collected and cleared up to calculate the evaluation indexes including the mortality rate, and the average potential life lost (AYLL). Results From 2002 to 2013, the average mortality rates of gastric cancer in urban and rural area of Xiamen were 16.75 per 100 000 persons and 14.64 per 100 000 persons; the AYLLs were 8.11 years and 10.27 years, respectively. Both in urban and in rural, the mortality rate and the average rate of potential life lost (PYLLR) always kept in a smooth level; the mortality rates in male were always much higher than those in female; the mortality rate rose as the age grew and peaked at 75-age group. Conclusions Though the mortality rate of gastric cancer in urban and rural stays in a smooth level, the value of mortality is still high. So we still have to pay more attention to preventing and curing of gastric cancer.