Purpose: In China, gastric cancer (GC), which is one of the most common malignant tumors, has an increasing incidence in elderly population due to aging process. Since a considerable number of elderly patients with GC accepting surgical treatments developed postoperative complications, it is necessary to evaluate risk factors for postoperative complications. Materials and methods: In the present study, the clinicopathologic characteristics of 3,024 elderly patients (aged >= 65 years) with GC, who underwent surgery between 1996 and 2006, were examined and contributing factors for postoperative complications were analyzed. A total of 2,915 non-elderly patients (aged <65 years) with GC during the same period were enrolled as a control group. Clinicopathologic characteristics of non-elderly patients were investigated and compared with elderly group. Results: As to clinicopathologic characteristics, significant differences were detected in terms of location of primary lesions between elderly patients and non-elderly patients (p < .05), whereas no statistical difference was observed in other characteristics between two groups (p > .05). Surgical property and method in elderly patients were similar to that in non-elderly patients (p > .05). Regression analysis showed that diabetes, chronic pulmonary disease, preoperative anemia, preoperative hypoalbuminemia, combined organ excision, and blood transfusion were independent factors for complications in elderly patients (p < .05), with some differences from non-elderly group. Conclusions: Elderly group with GC had distinctive clinicopathologic characteristics. Surgery remains principal treatment for elderly, and proper preoperative measures are required to decrease postoperative complications.