Chronic otitis media is showing decreasing tendency due to improvement of antibiotics and therapeutic methods, expansion of the medical benefits, and development of socioeconomic condition. But it is still one of the common disease in otolaryngological clinics in Korea. The epidemiologic studies on the prevalence rate of chronic otitis media in the past research carrying out in localized area or on a national scale were reported. But there was no report of study for the island up to the present. This study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence rate of chronic otitis media in primary school children of Keoche Island Area examined by means of otoscopy from May, 1994 to October, 1994. The results were as follows : 1) The prevalence rate of chronic otitis media of Primary School Children in Keoche Island Area in 1994 was. 1.79 per 1000 school children. 2) The prevalence rate in male was 1.62 and in female was 1.99 per 1000 School Children, and there was no sex related difference in prevalence rate. 3) The prevalence rate in age group were 0 in the lower classes(1st, 2nd, 3rd grades) and 3.63 per 1000 School Children in the higher classes(4th, 5th, 6th grades). 4) The prevalence rate in each socioeconomic group were 0 in high and middle group of primary school living at home and 48.8 per 1000 School Children in low group of primary school children living on orphan asylum. That is, the prevalence rate of the low socioeconomic group was remarkably high. Comparing with previously reported prevalence rate, authors' result shows decreasing tendency of prevalence rate. And it will be expected more continuous decrease in prevalence rate of chronic otitis media in accordance with the development of socioeconomic condition and expansion of the medical venefits.