BACKGROUND: This study aims to delineate the global, regional, and national burden of malignant neoplasms of bone and articular cartilage (MNBAC) among individuals aged 65 years and older from 1990 to 2021, stratified by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI). METHODS: We harnessed data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 to evaluate the prevalence, incidence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) associated with MNBAC among individuals aged 65 years and older across 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2021. The socio-demographic Index (SDI) served as a metric to examine the influence of socioeconomic development on the burden of MNBAC. Furthermore, joinpoint regression analysis was employed to identify the years marked by the most significant temporal changes over the study period. RESULTS: In 2021, an estimated 163,561 prevalent cases of MNBAC were recorded among individuals aged ≥ 65 years, alongside 28,100 newly diagnosed cases, 27,588 deaths, and 508,202 DALYs. The age-standardized rates per 100,000 population were 21.30 for prevalence, 3.69 for incidence, 3.66 for mortality, and 65.85 for DALYs. Notably, Cuba reported the highest prevalence rate (42.42), while the Philippines exhibited the greatest DALY burden (161.78). Egypt demonstrated the highest incidence (7.44) and mortality rates (8.90). A significant inverse correlation was observed between age-standardized DALY rates and SDI across regions. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis underscores the substantial global burden of MNBAC among older adults, accentuating the imperative for tailored public health interventions, alongside advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, particularly within resource-constrained settings.