Objective To estimate the cancer incidence and mortality in China in 2004-2005 based on available resources. Methods The cancer mortality and incidence ratios were obtained on the basis of national cancer registration database in 2003 and 2004 adjusted by age and area. The crude cancer mortalities were retrieved from the database of the third national death survey 2004-2005. Incidence rates of sepeeified cancer types were calculated using mortality and M/I ratios. Results The total estimated cancer incidence and mortality per year in 2004-2005 were 2 596 112 new eases and 1 798 147 deaths, both were higher in males than in females. There were 1 337 227 new eases and 841 860 deaths in urban areas compared with 1 258 885 new eases and 956 287 deaths in rural areas. Cancers of the lung, stomach, liver, esophagus and eoloreetum/anus were the commonest cancers in China with 483 040,428 380,370 236,236 589 and 197 873 new cases, respectively. Those five cancers were leading causes of cancer death with a number of 420 411,339 308, 318 756, 190 233 and 101 684, respectively. Conclusion Cancer burden in China is getting more and more serious. It is imperative to enhance effective cancer prevention and control in China.