ObjectiveTo explore the characteristics and risk factors of suicidal ideation among community subjects in Xiamen city and to provide appropriate suicide intervention strategies.MethodsUsing multi-stage stratified cluster sampling,12071 subjects aged 18 years and older were identified in Xiamen City.Their suicidal ideation was recorded with the investigation list made by Beijing Huilongguan Hospital Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Center.Psychiatrists determined their diagnosis with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder 4th edition (DSM-Ⅳ).ResultsA total of 10757 subjects completed the survey,the completion was 89.1％.The life-time prevalence of suicidal ideation was 2.48％ (95％CI:2.19％ ～ 2.77％ ),the prevalence was higher in female(3.00％ ) than male( 1.88％ ) (RR =1.60,95％CI:1.24 ～2.06).Analysis of risk factors by single logistic regression showed that the suicidal ideation of persons were mostly in female,44 years and older group,in rural,not-being married,no medical insurance,poor mental or physical health in last month,being in hospital due to the mental problems,low quality of life,living alone,having blood relatives or acquaintance with suicidal behavior.While the risk factors by muhivariate logistic regression were ranked as follows:having acquaintance with suicidal behavior (OR =3.66,95％CI:2.44 ～5.50),being in hospital because of mental problems (OR =3.30,95％CI:1.08 ～10.09),poor mental health in last month(OR =3.17,95％CI:2.37 ～4.24),any blood relatives having suicidal behavior (OR =2.91,95％CI:1.61 ～ 5.25 ),low of quality of life (OR =2.21,95％CI:1.50 ～ 3.26 ),not-being married (OR =1.73,95％CI:1.28 ～ 2.32),living alone (OR =1.65,95％CI:1.18 ～ 2.32),being female (OR=1.57,95％CI:1.21 ～ 2.05).The prevalence of mental disorders in suicidal ideation was 46.4％.ConclusionThe prevalence of suicidal ideation is significantly higher in female residents than in male.Having acquaintance with suicidal behavior,being in hospital due to the mental problems as well as poor mental health in last month are the main risk factors of suicidal ideation.