Trends in depression incidence in China, 1990–2019

•Depression has gradually become an important public health problem affecting the Chinese population.•In the past 30 years, the age-standardized incidence of depression among both genders had decreased China, and the crude incidence of depression increased.•Although the incidence of depression decreased among both genders for younger age groups, the incidence of depression among older individuals increased.•Attention should be devoted to depression among elderly individuals in China, and some policies need to be formulated to promote the mental health of elderly individuals.