Analyzing quantitative characteristics and distribution pattern of population is helpful for understanding population renewal, stability and succession. This study aimed to clarify the structure of natural population of Phoebe bournei in central Jiangxi. With data from field survey, population characteristics were studied based on the survivorship curve and quantitative analysis method. Population distribution pattern was analyzed with the diffusion coefficient and aggregation intensity index. The proportion of seedlings (D<2 cm), saplings (2 cm≤D<5 cm), small trees (5 cm≤D<10 cm), medium trees (10 cm≤D<20 cm), large trees (20 cm≤D<40 cm) and old trees (D≥40 cm) accounted for 57.93%, 13.14%, 12.91%, 9.49%, 4.96% and 1.59% of the total abundance, respectively. The diameter structure of the population as a whole was generally an inverse J type. The mortality of the population at three stages of D<2 cm and H>1 m, 5 cm≤D<10 cm and 60 cm≤D<65 cm all exceeded 50%. The life expectancy was the highest at 25 cm≤D<30 cm (e_x=4.50). The survivorship curve of the population was the Deevey-II type, which belonged to the growing and stable population and was more sensitive to external disturbances. The population distribution pattern was generally aggregated, with the aggregation intensity decreasing with scales. From the stages of seedlings, saplings, small trees, medium trees, large trees to old trees, the distribution pattern changed from high aggregation to low aggregation, with the aggregated distribution developing towards a random direction.