Objective To assess the severity distribution proportion and quality of life (QOL) of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)among population in Southern China.Methods Data were from the cross-sectional survey of COPD which was conducted in an urban and a rural of Guangdong for residents aged over 40 years old.The recruited populations were interviewed with questionnaire and were tested with spirometry.Those with less than 70％ of post-bronchodialator FEV1/FVC were identified as the COPD.The quality of life was assessed with 12-item Short-Form health survey questionnaire (SF-12).Groups (A,B,C and D) were classified according to GOLD using combination of mMRC,FEV1 ％pred and acute exacerbation of COPD in last year.Results Three hundred and three patients with COPD indentified by spirometry testing among population,there were 109 (36.0 ％),77 (25.4 ％),38 (12.5 ％)and 79 (26.1 ％) patients in Group A,B,C and D,respectively.There was statistically difference between each two groups in physical component scores of SF-12 (F =39.593,P ＜0.001) except for difference between Group B and C,with 49.28±4.25,43.21±7.94,44.67±7.90 and 37.45±9.68 for Group A,B,C and D,respectively.A statistically difference was found between four groups in mental component scores of SF-12 (F =2.978,P =0.032),with 57.62±3.31,57.89±4.25,57.22±4.83,55.63±7.95 for Group A,B,C and D,respectively.Group D had a lower mental component scores of SF-12 compare to Group A and C (both P ＜0.05).Conclusions Group A is the highest proportion in population with a minimum of impaired quality of life,and Group D has the most serious damage of quality of life.