Objective To explore the disability status of the elderly with depressive symptoms or non-depressive symptoms and its influencing factors. Methods Based on the data of the 8^th questionnaire of Chinese longitudinal healthy longevity survey (CLHLS), 11 382 elderly aged 65 years or older were enrolled. Chi square test was used to analyze the relationship between depressive symptoms, demographic characteristics, sociological characteristics, life style, health status and disability; and binary logistic regression analysis was used to explore the main influencing factors of disability in the elderly. Results Totally 1 341 (11.78%) participants had depressive symptoms; the disability of the elderly with depressive symptoms (29.90%, 401/1 341) was significantly higher than that of the elderly without depressive symptoms (20.09%, 2 017/10 041) (P＜0.001). Gender, annual income, alcohol use, or number of chronic diseases was not significantly correlated to disability status in the depressive symptom group, but there was a significant correlation with disability status in the non-depressive symptom group (all P＜0.01). For the elderly with non-depressive symptoms, urban, age≥80 years, body mass index (BMI)＜18.5 kg/m² or ≥28.0 kg/m², being widowed, living in a nursing home, and with 2 or more chronic diseases were risk factors for disability (all P＜0.05); and living alone and having exercise and social activities were protective factors (all P＜0.001). For the elderly with depressive symptoms, urban, age≥80 years, BMI＜18.5 kg/m² or ≥28.0 kg/m², being widowed, and with 2 or more chronic diseases were risk factors for disability (all P＜0.05), while living alone and having social activities were protective factors (both P＜0.001). Conclusion The disability of the elderly with depressive symptoms is more common than that of the elderly with non-depressive symptoms. Urban, age≥80 years, BMI＜18.5 kg/m² or ≥28.0 kg/m², being widowed, and with 2 or more chronic diseases are the risk factors for disability, while living alone and having social activities are protective factors.