We aimed to construct a national database for N and P concentrations and their stoichiometric characteristics of leaf litter in Chinas forests. We also investigated the effects of biotic and abiotic factors, including geography (latitude), climate (mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation) and leaf traits (evergreen and deciduous; broad-leaved and coniferous) on N and P concentrations and their stoichiometry in leaf litter. Data about N and P concentrations and their stoichiometric ratio (N/P) of leaf litter in Chinas forests were collected from published articles. Regression analyses were employed to explore the relationshi ps between N, P or N/P and environmental factors. The results showed that both N concentration and N/P in leaf litter decreased with latitude but P concentration increased. With the increase of mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation, both N concentration and N/P increased but P concentration decreased. There was no signifi cant difference in N concentration between evergreen and deciduous tree species, but the P concentration of deciduous trees was 53% higher than that of evergreen trees. Similarly, N/P of deciduous species was 57% lower than that of evergreen species. There were no differences in P concentration and N/P between broad-leaved and con iferous tree species. However, N concentration of broad-leaved species was 37% higher than that of coniferous species. Therefore, N and P concentrations and their stoichiometric rate in leaf litter of Chinas forests are considered to be infl uenced by environmental factors and leaf traits. Especially, climatic factors may be the main factors to affect P concentration and N/P. The results can provide a theoretical basis for predicting the nutrients return of forest litter under future global warming.