Abstract: Objective To evaluate the risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)in community residents of Harbin city and to provide scientific basis for making appropriate prevention and intervention measures. Methods With cluster random sampling method,1 491 residents from 4 communities in Harbin municipality were investigated with a questionnaire survey,physical examination and laboratory detection. Results A total of 1 491 people including 456 people with T2DM were surveyed and the prevalence of T2DM was 30.58%.The prevalence rates of T2DM were significantly different among the residents of different age,education level,different status of family history of diabetes,hypertension,overweight or obesity,abdominal obesity,high blood lipids,exercise and alcohol drinking(P<0.05 for all). The results of unconditional multivariate logistic regression indicated that age,family history of diabetes,high blood lipids,abdominal obesity,hypertension and overweight or obesity were risk factors for T2DM among the residents. Conclusion Age,family history of diabetes,high blood lipids,hypertension and obesity are major risk factors for T2DM among community residents in Harbin city.