Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare factors influencing depression in elderly people who live alone and those who do not live alone. Methods: The data were obtained from the 6th and the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Data for 3,218 elderly people were included. Variables related to general, physical and psychological characteristics were selected. Results: The results of the study were as follows. 1) The factors affecting depression in elders living alone were dinner frequency, presence of hypertension or stroke, walking time, Body Mass Index, activity limitation, stress, body image, and quality of life, and their explanatory power was 50.0%. 2) Factors influencing depression in elders not living alone were sex, economic level, educational level, frequency of breakfast and lunch, activity limitation, stress, subjective health status and quality of life, and the explanatory power was 35.2%. Conclusion: The results of this study show that factors affecting depression are different according to the elders’ residence type. In order to prevent depression in elderly people, it is necessary to establish different strategies according to their residence type.