Abstract: Objective To investigate the major causes of the elderly people (over 60 years), and provide effective preventive measures for elderly people. Methods Mortality and geriatrics effect index (GEI) are used in this paper to analyse the data on the causes of death ot the elderly people between 2007 and 2008. Results The total mortality of elderly people was 3427.85/10⁵, and the death rate of men was higher than that of women.The main causes of death were circulatory system diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases, injuries and infection, digestive diseases and so on.The group of 85-year-olds had the highest death rate in all groups.The first cause of death in 60-, 65-, 70-year-old groups was cancer, and in 75-, 80-, 85-year-old groups was circulatory system diseases. Conclusion The disease prevention and controlling measures for elderly people should be focused on circulatory system diseases, cancer and respiratory diseases.