ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between the natural environment of residential areas and subjective well-being of the elderly and the role of the elderly’s evaluation of the environmental protection work in both. MethodsBased on the China social survey database (CSS) in 2019, Rstudio and Stata software were used to process the data screened according to the restricted conditions, and multi-classification logistic regression analysis and Bootstrap mediation effect test were used to test the effect relationship among variables. ResultsAir pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, land pollution, electromagnetic ionizing radiation pollution and other pollution in residential areas have no direct effect on the subjective well-being of the elderly (P>0.05). The evaluation of the elderly on the environmental protection work had a positive impact on the elderly’s subjective well-being (P<0.01) and played a completely mediating role in the impact of the natural environment in the residential area on the elderly’s subjective well-being. ConclusionThe government should continue to play a leading role in coordinating environmental protection and pollution control work. In addition, establish an open and transparent environmental protection information disclosure system and strengthen communication with the elderly.