To assess the disease burden of lung cancer associated with occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in China from 1990 to 2021 using the 2021 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) data. In July 2024, data on occupational PAHs exposure-associated lung cancer from 1990 to 2021 were extracted from the GBD database, including mortality rates, age-standardized mortality rates, number of deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rates, age-standardized DALYs rates, and number of DALYs for different genders and ages. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze trends in lung cancer mortality rates, age-standardized mortality rates, DALYs rates, and age-standardized DALYs rates over different years, genders, and ages. Joinpoint regression models were used to calculate the annual percent change (APC) and average annual percent change (AAPC), and to identify change points and trends in different periods within the data. From 1990 to 2021, the mortality rate of lung cancer associated with occupational PAHs exposure increased from 0.085 per 100000 to 0.259 per 100000, and the age-standardized mortality rate increased from 0.107 per 100000 to 0.162 per 100000. The DALYs rate increased from 2.746 per 100000 to 7.389 per 100000, and the age-standardized DALYs rate increased from 3.330 per 100000 to 4.679 per 100000. The number of lung cancer deaths and DALYs both peaked in the 65-69 age group. Joinpoint regression analysis showed significant upward trends in mortality, age-standardized mortality, DALYs rate, and age-standardized DALYs rate from 1990 to 2021, with AAPCs of 3.655%, 1.382%, 3.256%, and 1.108%, respectively (all <0.001). From 2016 to 2021, both the mortality rate and age-standardized mortality rate increased, with APCs of 4.163% and 1.735%, respectively. From 2015 to 2021, the DALYs rate increased (APC: 3.137%), and from 2016 to 2021, the age-standardized DALYs rate also rose (APC: 1.578%). For females, both mortality and DALYs rates increased from 2015 to 2021 (APCs: 6.269% and 5.426%, respectively). Among males, the mortality rate increased from 2018 to 2021 (APC: 3.477%) . From 1990 to 2021, the disease burden of lung cancer related to occupational PAHs exposure in China has significantly increased, particularly among the elderly population. Public health policies should enhance screening and prevention efforts targeting the high-risk populations.