Objective To analyze the difference of diseases between the coal mine workers and the general population inpatients by the disease spectrum in Datong City. Methods A total of 282 639 hospitalized patients in Datong City in 2023 were included as the study subjects. Participants were divided into a general population group and a coal mine workers group based on health insurance types, with 247 897 and 34 742 cases, respectively. The disease spectrum of participants in both groups was coded and analyzed according to the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision (ICD-10). The standardized constituent ratios of disease categories were calculated and compared between the two groups. Results Patients aged 60-<70 years had the largest standardized proportion in both cohorts (29.02% in the general population group and 33.08% in coal mine workers group). Circulatory system diseases had the highest standardized proportion in both groups. Within the top six disease categories ranked by standardized composition ratio in the coal mine workers, three demonstrated a higher burden, including neoplasms (C00-D48), symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical/laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99), and factors influencing health status/contact with health services (Z00-Z99), compared with the general population (11.82% vs 10.44%, 12.99% vs 8.03%, and 6.17% vs 2.04%, respectively). In both groups, male workers had higher standardized constituent ratios of circulatory, respiratory, and digestive system diseases than females (coal mine workers group, 19.53% vs 14.31%, 13.56% vs 9.10%, 10.61% vs 8.43%; general population group, 26.15% vs 22.42%, 15.45% vs 11.87%, 11.52% vs 10.41%). Conversely, the ratios for conditions classified under symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical/laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99). and factors influencing health status/contact with health services (Z00-Z99) were higher in females than males (coal mine workers group, 13.31% vs 12.68%, 7.26% vs 5.13%; general population group, 8.91% vs 7.18%, 2.35% vs 1.74%). Mental and behavioral disorders (F00-F99) were most prevalent in the 22-<50-year age group in the general population (9.92%) and in the 50-<60-year age group in coal mine workers (8.58%). The standardized proportion of respiratory system diseases ranked first in≥80-year age workers in general population group and coal mine workers group (29.54% and 26.46%, respectively). Regarding specific malignancies, unspecified malignant neoplasm of the bronchus or lung was the most common cancer among males in both groups (3.44% and 3.62%). Among females, the standardized proportion of unspecified malignant neoplasm of breast was higher in coal mine workers group than in the general population group (2.60% vs 2.09%). Conclusion Neoplasms, abnormal symptoms, and mental health disorders should be prioritized in disease prevention strategies for coal mine workers. Greater attention should be paid to mental health screening in younger populations, and medical resource allocation should be optimized according to sex-specific high-incidence cancers.