Abstract: Objective To assess the characteristics and relative importance of suicide of men and women in urban and rural residents in the reproductive age groups in China in 1998.Methods The rates of death by cause for the three reproductive age ranges aged 15~24,25~34,35~44 are computed by applying the rates of death provided in official statistics of 1998 from the Ministry of Health to the 1998 population for the corresponding subg roups provided in the 1999 China Population Statistics Yearbook.Results In 1998 suicide was the number 1 cause of death in persons 15-34 years old and the 4th most important cause of death in persons aged 35-44.In persons aged 15-44,rural suicide rates are 3.24 times higher than urban rates,rural suicide count for 86% of all suicides.In rural areas female suicide rates are higher in persons aged 15-44;in urban areas female suicide rates are higher in persons aged 15-34.As age incrases,the difference of suicide rates in male and female decreases.Conclusion Persons aged 15-44 years,especially rural women,should be the focus of suicide prevention in China.