By literature search, 114 papers for fertile m ale sperm quality including 256 set data w ere collected from 9 292 personsand 11 726 assaysinvolving 39 citiesand coun- ties. Results of analysis show ed a decrease in m ean concentration of sperm from 103.02×106 /m l (1983) to 83.84×106/m l (1996), sperm m otility w as decreased from 75.11(1982) to 67.27(1996) and percentage of sperm w ith norm alm or- phology w asreduced from 85.02(1983) to 77.89(1996), thusshow ing thedefi- nite negative correlation and being statistically significant (P< 0.05). Total sperm countsw ere decreased from 355.34×106(1984) to 262.26×106(1996) and the m ean sem inalvolum ew asdecreased from 3.31 m l(1981) to 2.97 m l(1996), both tending to decline butnotbeing statistically significant(P> 0.05). Itisinteresting to notethat although Chinese sperm quality is better, itdeclines significantly faster than thatof w estern countriesatthesam eperiod. Itispossible thatthe decline of sperm quality is due to problem of environm entalquality. Theauthorssuggesttheemphasisof basicre- search in relevantfields. By literature search, 114 papers for fertile m ale sperm quality including 256 set data w ere collected from 9 292 persons and 11 726 assays involved 39 cities and councils. Results of analysis show ed a decrease in m concentration of sperm from 103.02 × 106 / sperm m otility w as decreased from 75.11  (1982) to 67.27  (1996) and percentage of sperm w ith norm alm or-phology w asreduced from 85.02  (1983) to 83.84 × 106 / ml ) to 77.89 (1996), thusshow ing thedefi- nite negative correlation and being statistically significant (P <0.05). Total sperm counts w ere decreased from 355.34 × 106 (1984) to 262.26 × 106 (1996) and the semanal inalvolum It is of interest to to not but since but the Chinese sperm quality is better, itdeclines significantly faster than that of the w estern countriesatthesam eperiod. Itispossible tothedecreasedfrom 3.31ml (1981) to 2.97ml (1996), both tending to decline butnotbeing statistically significant (P> 0.05). decline of sperm qua lity is due to problem of environm entalquality. Theauthorssuggesttheemphasisof basicresearch in relevantfields.