Objective: The National Central Cancer Registry (NCCR) collected esophageal data of local cancer registries in 2013 to estimate the incidence and mortality in China. Methods: Data submitted from 347 registries were evaluated and 255 registries' data are qualified by NCCR. Data of incidence and mortality were stratified with areas (urban/rural), gender and age group. Chinese population census in 2000 and Segi's population were used for age-standardized incidence/mortality. Results: All of 255 cancer registries covered a total of 226 494 490 population (111 595 772 in urban areas and 114 898 718 in rural areas). The morphology verified cases (MV%) of esophageal cancer accounted for 75.51% and 1.64% of incident cases were identified through death certifications only (DCO%) with mortality to incidence ratio of 0.75. The estimates of new esophageal cancer cases and deaths were 277 thousand and 206 thousand in China, respectively. The crude incidence rate of esophageal cancer in Chinese cancer registration areas was 20.35/10(5) (28.15/10(5) in male, 12.15/10(5) in female), age-standardized incidence rates by Chinese standard population (ASIRC) and by world standard population were 13.64/10(5) and 13.82/10(5) with the cumulative incidence rate (0-74 age years old) of 1.77%. The esophageal cancer incidence and ASIRC were 13.38/10(5) and 8.74/10(5) in urban areas whereas in rural areas, they were 28.44/10(5) and 19.56/10(5,) respectively. In rural areas, the crude incidence rate of esophageal cancer was 2.13 times higher than that in urban areas, and after age-standardized it remained 2.24 times higher. The esophageal cancer mortality in Chinese cancer registration areas was 15.17/10(5) (20.86/10(5) in male and 9.20/10(5) in female), age-standardized mortality by Chinese standard population (ASMRC) and by world standard population were 9.95/10(5) and 9.98/10(5,) with the cumulative mortality rate (0-74 age years old) of 1.20%. The esophageal cancer mortality and ASMRC were 10.12/10(5) and 6.46/10(5) in urban areas, whereas in rural areas, they were 21.05/10(5) and 14.16/10(5,) respectively. In rural areas, the esophageal cancer mortality and ASMRC were 2.08 and 2.19 times higher than those in urban areas. Esophageal cancer was the sixth common cancer and the fourth leading causes of cancer death, accounting for about 7.52% of all cancer cases and 9.26% of all cancer deaths. Conclusions: Esophageal cancer is one of the most common cancers in China. Screening and early detection are important to reduce the incidence and mortality.