To compare clinical epidemiological features of atrial fibrillation (AF) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and non-CKD populations. This study included 88,312 adults aged ≥45 years old from the KAILUAN study. AF was ascertained with a 12-lead electrocardiogram. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and/or proteinuria. Participants were categorized into non-CKD (eGFR > 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 without proteinuria, n = 66,725) and CKD (n = 21,578) groups. We evaluated the prevalence of AF in both groups, evaluated risk factors for AF using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of AF among non-CKD and CKD participants was 0.26% and 1.00%, respectively. Multivariable-adjusted analysis showed that older age (odds ratio OR: 1.08, 95% confidence interval CI: 1.07–1.10, P < 0.001), smoking (OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.07–1.57, P = 0.017), hypertension (OR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.44–3.17, P < 0.001), diabetes (OR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.10–2.89, P < 0.001), and larger waist circumference (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01–1.04, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with AF in the non-CKD group. In the CKD group, older age, smoking, larger waist circumference, reduced eGFR (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.95–0.99, P < 0.001), proteinuria (OR: 2.01, 95% CI: 1.09–3.74, P < 0.001) and raised serum C-reactive protein (1.01, 1.00–1.03, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with AF. The prevalence of AF in Chinese adults with CKD is higher than that among those without CKD. Risk factors for AF in non-CKD population were not the same compared with those in CKD population, kidney function and inflammatory markers were associated with the prevalence of AF. •We compared the clinical epidemiological features of atrial fibrillation (AF) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and non-CKD populations. 88312 adults aged ≥45 years old were enrolled from the KAILUAN study, it include 21578 CKD individuals (defined as an eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and/ or proteinuria) and 66725 non-CKD individuals (eGFR >60 mL/min/1.73 m2 without proteinuria). AF was ascertained with 12-lead electrocardiogram.•The prevalence of AF among CKD and non-CKD individuals was 1.00% and 0.26%, respectively.•Multivariable-adjusted analysis showed that older age, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and larger waist circumference were significantly associated with AF in the non-CKD group.•In the CKD group, older age, smoking, larger waist circumference, reduced eGFR, proteinuria and raised serum C-reactive protein were significantly associated with AF.