Chronic pain is a public health problem with high impact on various population segments. There are few population studies with the aim of delineating the profile of the chronic pain patient, and generating data for actions to prevent, control and minimize the problem. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of chronic pain in the population of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil and identify independent predictors associated with this morbidity. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a sample population of 2297 individuals of >20 years of age, in Salvador, Brazil. A standardized questionnaire was applied at home to collect data about socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle, chronic pain and abdominal circumference measurement. The chronic pain was defined as pain with a duration of longer than 6 months. Prevalence of pain and the OR (univariate analysis) were estimated and adjusted (logistic regression), and their ICs at 95% and p<0.05 in the two analyses. The presence of chronic pain was found in 41.4% of the total study population, women being more affected (48.4% against 32.8% in men), with OR of 1.92 IC 95% 1.6-2,28 p<0.001. Among the studied factors, in the gross analysis, the following were shown to be associated with chronic pain: conjugal situation, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, presence of central obesity and age, all with p<0.05. In the multivariate analysis, female sex, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and age were sustained as independent predictors. The presence of chronic pain was predominant in women, the elderly, smokers or ex-smokers and excessive alcohol consumers.