INTRODUCTION: Migraine and other types of primary headache are widely prevalent and are thought to have substantial economic implications on a global scale. Nevertheless, the precise prevalence rates in China exhibited discrepancies across various studies. The present study aimed to ascertain the prevalence of migraine and other primary headache disorders in China. METHODS: A systematic search of peer-reviewed literature was conducted in the Chinese Wanfang, CNKI, PubMed, and MEDLINE databases from January 1988 to December 2023 to identify prevalence data on migraine and other primary headache disorders among the Chinese population, published in either English or Chinese language. The study utilized a random-effects model to summarize pooled prevalence estimates, with subgroup analyses conducted based on sex, age, publication year, and geographical region. RESULTS: A total of 18 studies were included for detailed review and meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of migraine and tension-type headache (TTH) in China was found to be 6.1% (95% CI: 4.1-8.6%) and 13.4% (95% CI: 7.2-21.2%), respectively. The prevalence of migraine in the years 1988-1999 was 1.3% (95% CI: 1.1-1.5%), while the prevalence of TTH was 5.0% (95% CI: 4.5-5.4%). In contrast, the prevalence of migraine in the years 2000-2023 increased to 7.0% (95% CI: 4.9-9.4%), with TTH prevalence at 13.2% (95% CI: 7.1-20.8%). The weighted-pooled prevalence of both migraine and TTH were higher in females than in males. Subgroup analyses suggested that factors such as geographical region, age, sex, and publication year may be associated with the prevalence of these headache disorders. A single study encompassing 3,457,170 participants revealed a prevalence rate of 0.0068% for cluster headache. CONCLUSION: Our research suggested an increasing trend in the prevalence of migraine and TTH in China over time, with females being more susceptible to primary headaches than males. This underscores the significance of not disregarding these conditions, especially in females. Future epidemiological studies of high quality are warranted to further investigate the prevalence of migraine and other primary headaches in China.