Objectives To understand the normal references of standardized bone mineral density (sBMD) in general population in China and investigate the distribution of prevalence rate and risk factories of osteoporosis in the middle-aged and elderly population in China. Methods Using the three manufactures of Dual Energy X- ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) equipment, Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured among 3521 general population aged above 20 years old in five area of China by the random sampling method ; Questionnaires and BMD were surveyed from 5593 people aged above 40 years old in five administrative areas in China, by the stratified-multi-steps-cluster sampling method; 216 variables were analyzed by the non-conditional logistic regression. Results We found out the standardized normal references of BMD and peak bone values in lumbar spine and proximal femur by sex and age; The total prevalence rate of osteoporosis in the population aged over 60 years old was 22.6% . Of them, the prevalence rate of male was 15.0% and that of female was 28.6% (P< 0.01); We screened 47 risk factors that influence the osteoporosis including the age , the chronic disease in respiration, the stomach trouble and the age of stop smoking which are common risk factors in male and female. Conclusions The prevalence rate of osteoporosis in females was higher than that of female and increased with age. The prevention and treatment of osteoporosis are very important to the female but should not be ignored in male; There are common influencing factors and there are some certain variances of the risk factors and exposed level in male and female in China.