Objective To investigate the current situation of environmental health literacy among residents in Shanghai, China and analyze its influencing factors, and to provide scientific guidance for accurately improving the level of environmental health literacy.

Methods A multi-stage cluster random sampling method was used to conduct a survey for environmental health literacy among 1498 residents aged 15-69 years of 6 districts in Shanghai. The chi-square test and multiple logistic regression model were used to analyze the demographic factors influencing the environmental health literacy level among residents in Shanghai.

Results In 2023, the number of residents with environmental health literacy in Shanghai accounted for about 36.67% of the total surveyed population. The level of basic concept literacy in the primary class was relatively low (33.75%) and the level of basic cognition literacy in the secondary class was relatively low (20.63%). There were significant differences in the overall level of environmental health literacy between residents with different residential areas, genders, ages, and occupational education levels (P < 0.05); the environmental health literacy level was higher in urban residents (41.53%) than in suburban residents (31.81%), higher in males (39.44%) than in females (33.89%), highest in residents aged 15-17 years (46.88%), highest in leading cadres and civil servants (49.28%), highest in residents with graduate degree or above (60.00%), and highest in residents with a per capita monthly income higher than 21 000 yuan (44.83%). The multiple logistic regression model showed that the effects of residential area, gender, age, and education level on the environmental health literacy level of residents were statistically significant (P < 0.05).

Conclusion In 2023, the environmental health literacy of residents in Shanghai is generally high, while the level of basic concept literacy needs to be improved. Residential area, gender, age, and educational level are the factors influencing environmental health literacy. In the future, it is necessary to strengthen the basic cognition and scientific knowledge literacy of residents, with a focus on elderly, low-educated residents living in rural areas. In the publicity of basic knowledge, especially scientific knowledge, more attention should be paid to the female population.