Objective  To examine epidemiological characteristics of tuberculosis in Hunnan district of Shenyang municipality between 2012 – 2016 and to identify key areas and populations for prevention of the disease.

  Methods   Data on reported tuberculosis patients in Hunnan district between 2012 and 2016 were extracted from National Information System for Disease Control and Prevention and chi-squre test was adopted to analyze yearly and gender difference in tuberculosis incidence.

  Results   During the 5-year period, totally 1 088 tuberculosis cases were reported and the average annual incidence rate was 48.65/100 000; the annual tuberculosis incidence rate was 72.34, 53.8, 37.70, 40.12, and 39.26 per 100 000 population, with a significant yearly difference (χ² = 80.049, P < 0.001) and a downward trend. The mean annual incidence rate of the males was significantly higher that of the females (95.76/100 000 vs. 39.30/100 000, χ² = 193.865; P < 0.001). Of the reported cases, 22.98 % were at the ages of 20 – 29 years; 45.04 %, 30.51 %, and 12.87% were house worker or the unemployed, farmer, and student, accounting for 88.42% of the total cases. More cases occurred in densely inhabited areas and 24.17 % of the cases were of the same registered community address (Wusan Community).

  Conclusion  The incidence of pulmonary tuberculosis in Hunnan district of Shenyang municipality declined during 2012 – 2016. More reported cases were male, aged 20 – 29 years, being house workers or the employed, and living in densely inhabited areas.