By using 19952005 lightning disaster data and 19952002 LIS/OTD light ning data over Beijing, a contrast analysis of lightning activity with lightning di saster in temporal and spatial characteristics over Beijing was conducted. Resu lts show that the diurnal variation of lightning activity and lightning disaster is generally agreement. The disagreement might be a result of human behavior an d electrical/magnetical environment. The seasonal variation is also generally a ccordant. In summer, the peak period of lightning disaster is in August, but mos t lightning activity occurs in July. This research also shows that the spatial c haracteristics of lightning activity withlightning disaster are obviously different. There are more lightning act ivities in the north of Beijing but less lightning disasters. By contraries, there are less lightning activities but more lightning disasters over the periphery of the city. Based on the economic and population data of eighteen boroughs, further analy sis shows that lightning activity is only one of reasons which lead to lightning d isasters. The lightning disaster is also related to economic development and popu lation density.