Falls are the most common accidents among the elderly, and while medical risk factors are well known, less is known about the association of falls with social factors. The aims of this study were to estimate the incidence rate of falls in a national, representative sample of Israeli elderly and to examine the association of falls with selected medical and social factors. A special national survey conducted in 1985 by the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics showed that among a representative sample of 3,494 community-dwelling elderly persons aged greater than or equal to 65, 24% reported a fall in the past year; the rate was 16% among men and 31% among women. The majority of falls reported happened out of doors. Of those who fell 37% subsequently visited the emergency room. Analyses adjusted for age and sex showed that single persons, particularly women, living alone reported falls at a higher rate than their married counterparts. Analyses adjusted for age, sex and mobility level showed that frequency of social interaction was inversely related to reported falls. Use of sleeping pills, problems with vision, and mobility restrictions were associated with falls in age-and sex-adjusted analyses. Advanced age (greater than 75 years) was associated with repeated falls that occurred both in the home and outdoors.