This report compared Chinese injury data based on a 100 million population segment for 1986 with data for the USA. For China, the age-adjusted death rate from all injuries, including suicide, exceeded the rate for the US. Especially noteworthy in China were the high suicide rates in rural areas among young adults & the elderly. The authors conclude that injury is an important public health problem in China & that high priority needs to be placed on injury research & prevention. (14 refs.)