Background To evaluate the distribution of central corneal thickness and its associations in the adult Chinese population. Methods The Beijing Eye Study 2006 is a population-based study including 3,251 (73.3%) subjects (aged 45+ years) out of 4,439 subjects who participated in the survey in 2001 and who returned for re-examination. Central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements were performed by slit lamp-based optical coherence tomography. Results Central corneal thickness measurement data were available for 3,100 (95.4%) subjects. Mean CCT was 556.2 +/- 33.1 mu m (median: 553 mu m; range: 429-688 mu m). In multiple regression analysis, CCT was significantly associated with optic disc area (P = 0.043), urban region (P < 0.001; odds ratio (OR): 4.77; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.37, 7.17), male gender (P < 0.001; OR: 5.64; 95%CI: 2.57, 8.71), and intraocular pressure measurements (P < 0.001). It was not significantly associated with body weight (P = 0.54) and body height (P = 0.66), age (P = 0.17), and refractive error (P = 0.43). Intraocular pressure (measured by pneumotonometry) increased for each mu m central corneal thickness increase by 0.03 mmHg. Conclusion In the adult Chinese population, CCT was significantly associated optic disc area, urban region, and male gender. Intraocular pneumotonometric pressure measurements increased for each mu m increase in central corneal thickness by 0.03 mmHg. CCT was not associated with age and refractive error.