Introduction Since 1980s, sexually transmitted diseases (STD) reappeared in mainland China and the reported cases increased over years, the Ministry of Public Health set up national STD surveillance system to monitor trends. The results of surveillance showed that gonorrhoea was a prevalent STD and became an important public health issue. However, since 2000, incidence of gonorrhoea had decreased. In order to understand trends and epidemiological features of gonorrhoea recent 14 years in China, we conduct the analysis of data from the national system.

Methods Through 2000 to 2014, gonorrhoea case-reporting data collected from 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities in China were analysed with descriptive epidemiological methods.

Results During 2000–2014, the trends of reported gonorrhoea incidence appeared declined totally, from 22.92 per 100,000 population in 2000 to 7.25 per 100,000 population in 2014, with the annual average decrease of 7.89%. There was a significant difference in gonorrhoea incidence in different regions. High incidence regions were Yangtze River delta (Zhejiang, Shanghai, Jiangsu), Zhujiang River delta (Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan), and then the northwest minority areas (Xinjiang, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia). The gonorrhoea incidences in male were higher than that in female, and the sex ratio of male to female has been increasing, from 1.96:1 in 2000 to 4.52:1 in 2014. The incidence of gonorrhoea in 20–44 aged sex active population was peak among all age groups, maximum in 25–29 age-group for male and female, and it presented decreased in all age groups except 15–19 age-group of male with increase of 4.18%. Among 20 kinds of occupations, the proportion of the reported gonorrhoea cases for peasant workers was highest, accounting for 26.00%, and the gonorrhoea incidences in all occupation groups were downtrend.

Conclusion Gonorrhoea remained being a major issue of public heath in China, the preventive measures should be effectively tailored in the light of gonorrhoea epidemiological features.

Disclosure of interest statement No potential conflicts of interest.