Abstract: Objective To describe the incidence and mortality rates of brain and nervous system cancer in 135 cancer registration areas of China from 2008 to 2012. Methods The pooled data from 135 cancer registration areas in China from 2008 to 2012 were collected, and the incidence and mortality rates of brain and nervous system cancer were calculated. Results The overall incidence rate of brain and nervous system cancer in 135 registration areas was 6.21/100 000, and age-standardized rate by Chinese standard population (ASR China) and age-standardized rate by Segi's world population(ASR world) were 3.93/100 000 and 3.87/100 000 respectively, accounting for 2.19% of whole cancer and being ranked as the eleventh common cancer in China. The crude cancer incidence of brain and nervous system and ASR China were 9.45/100 000 and 6.31/100 000 for males compared with 2.88/100 000 and 1.72/100 000 for females, respectively. The brain and nervous system cancer incidence and ASR China were 7.59/100 000 and 4.60/100 000 in urban areas, while 4.07/100 000 and 2.78/100 000 in rural areas, respectively. The crude mortality in China was 2.48/100 000 (male 3.71/100 000, female 1.21/100 000), age-standardized mortality by Chinese standard population and by world standard population were both 1.40/100 000,and being ranked as the twelfth among the causes of death of various common cancer in China. The crude cancer mortality of brain and nervous system and ASR China were 2.91/100 000 and 1.53/100 000 in urban areas compared with 1.81/100 000 and 1.16/100 000 in rural areas, respectively. Conclusions Brain and nervous system cancer is one of the most common life-threatening cancers in China. The incidence rate of brain and nervous system cancer in urban areas is higher than that in rural areas of China, which is also higher in males than in females. The prevention and control for brain and nervous system cancer must be strengthened.