Abstract: Objective To study the quality of life and its influence factors in the elderly linving in Liethnic regions of Hainan province.Methods Overall 2 208 elders aged over 60 were randomly selected with multi-stage sampling in five Liethnic regions of Hainan.SF-36 quality of life questionnaire was adm inistrated in the elders.Multivariate analysis of variance,Chi-square test and multiple linear regression were used in the analysis.Results The prevalence of chronic diseases in the subjects was 53.35%(47.43% in male and 59.33% in female).The scores of PF,RP,BP,GH,VT and MH dimensionality were all significantly higher in urbane lders than those of rural elders(P<0.0001).But there was no signifi-cant diference in scores of SF and RE dimensiona lities between the two groups(P>0.005).Results of multiple linear regression showed that factors influencing the quality of life of the elders included the history of chronic disease,physicalexercise,living status of their children,age,income per capita.The quality of life of the elders with history of chronic disease was significantly lower than those without history of chronic disease.The scores decreased with age in all dimensions.Higher scores were observed in the elders with more physical exercise,with children under better living status and higher income per capita.Conclusion The quality of life of the urban elders living in Liethnic regions of Hainan province is better than that of elders in rural area.The major determinants of quality of life for the elders are physical exercise,history of chromic disease,living status of their children.