Abstract: Objective To describe the life satisfaction among the elderly in empty-nest family in rural village and to examine its influencing factors.Methods With cluster sampling method,a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2 212 old people ≥60 years (412 elderly in empty-nest family) from one rural village and one urban commumity using standardized health-related quality of life (QOL) questionnaire and a socio-demographic information form.Results The unsatisfactory rate for life among the empty-nest elderly was 43.7% and that of non-empty-nest elderly was 32.9% with significant difference.The life satisfaction among the empty-nest elderly was related to age,residential place,and entertainment.The results of binary variable analyses indicated that nutrition,subjective availability of social support,loneliness,filial piety,and income were determinants of life satisfaction.Conclusion The unsatisfactory rate for life are high among the empty-nest elderly in Shanghai city.Society and family members should pay more attention to the empty-nest elderly.