Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is an unexplained interstitial lung disease in which senescence is a central risk factor. Senescent cells drive chronic inflammation and fibrosis by the secreting senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Interleukin-11 (IL-11), a core factor in the SASP, is significantly upregulated in IPF lung tissues.IL-11 promotes lung cellular senescence and chronic inflammation through the activation of the JAK2/STAT3 and MEK/ERK1/2 pathways. It also leads to extracellular matrix protein deposition by promoting fibroblast-myofibroblast transformation, epithelial mesenchymal transition and endothelial mesenchymal transition. Targeting IL-11 has antiaging and fibrotic effects. Nanoparticle delivery therapeutic regimens targeting IL-11 show potential in animal models of IPF, but evidence for their clinical application is lacking. Future studies should focus on the dynamic molecular regulatory mechanisms of IL-11 in IPF, as well as the development of targeted delivery systems and multitarget combined intervention therapeutic regimens. This review systematically analyzes the molecular mechanisms of IL-11 in IPF and provides new perspectives for the treatment of aging-associated pulmonary fibrosis.