[Purpose] To analyze the mortality status of esophageal cancer from 1970 to 2007 in Zhongshan,in order to provide scientific information for prevention and control of esophageal cancer.[Methods] The death data of esophageal cancer in Zhongshan from 1970 to 2007 were collected and a series of indices including death number,crude mortality rate,China and world age-standardized rates,age-specific mortality rates were calculated and analyzed.[Results] There were 1 938 deaths of esophageal cancer in Zhongshan from 1997 to 2007,including 1 691 males and 247 females.The crude mortality rate in males (7.77/105) was higher than that in females(1.14/105),with significant difference(χ2=1070.04,P0.001).The mortality rates of esophageal cancer increased significantly in males from 1970 to 2007(Trend test U=3.46,P0.01),especially from 1990 to 2007.However,the mortality rates in females were still in low levels and remained relatively stable.[Conclusions] The mortality rates of esophageal cancer in males in Zhongshan increase continuously from 1997 to 2007,and the mortality rate in 2005~2007 is close to the estimated mortality rate of China in 2008.It suggests that the etiological study,prevention and control of esophageal cancer in Zhongshan should be enhanced.