AIM:To know the prevalence, high risk factors of diabetic retinopathy(DR) to provide evidence to the prevention and treatment of DR.METHODS:The investigation based on the demographic features and the distribution of Hui and Han nationalities using cluster random sampling, finishing the last sampling, ensuring the sample size of community and villages and filling the questionnaire of DR prevalence. Analyze the prevalence and high risk factors of DR in Ningxia region.RESULTS:Among 3001 cases, 76 cases were diagnosed with diabetes, in which 13 cases were DR, accounted for 17.11％ in diabetes, 0.43% in all subjects. There were males 5 cases, females 8 cases, no significant difference between prevalence of male and female, no significant difference of male prevalence between urban and rural district, as well as female. Eight cases with DR were found in 1734 Han cases, the prevalence rate was 0.46%; 4 cases with DR were found in 1240 Hui cases, the prevalence rate was 0.32%; there was significant difference between Han and Hui cases. The diabetic course, blood pressure, blood lipid and related factors of glucose control situation were analyzed. In those diagnosed DR cases, diabetic course＜5a was 1 case(7.69％), 5-10a 4 cases(30.77％), ＞10a 8 cases(61.54％).Ten cases (76.92％)were combined with hypertension, 8 cases combined with hyperlipidemia(61.54％).CONCLUSION:The prevalence of DR in Ningxia region was 17.11％, accounted for 0.43% in all subjects(the crowd rate ). The prevalence between male and female had no significant difference, the female DR patients in urban district was higher than that in rural district. The prevalence of DR in urban district was higher than that in rural district, there was significant difference. The prevalence of DR in Han nationality was higher than that in Hui nationality, there was significant difference. Long-term of diabetes, higher fasting plasma glucose (FPG), combined hypertension and hyperlipidemia are high risk factors to DR. Regular fundus examination and test of high risk factors for high risk diabetic patients are the key to prevent and treat DR.