Objective To review the genetic polymorphism of cytochrome P450 proteins (CYP) 2B6 (516G>T) in Han population under anesthesia with propofol in Northwest China, and to identify the genetic mutation frequency associated with propofol. Methods A total of 2 250 Han patients (830 men and 1 420 women) from Northwest China who underwent anesthesia with propofol in Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, from May 2019 to November 2019 were enrolled. Their data about genetic polymorphism of CYP2B6 (516G>T) was retrospectively analyzed. The effects of genotype frequency and sex on genotype distribution were analyzed. The distribution of the genotype in different areas around the world was compared. Results At 191CYP2B6 loci (516G>T), the frequency was 68.36% for GG genotype, 28.62% for GT genotype and 3.02% for TT. There was no difference as to the distribution of each genotype between male and female patients (P>0.05). The resultant frequency of T allele in Han population of Northwest China was similar to those in Northeast China and Japan, and also was similar to Mongolian and Tibetan ethnic patients in China (P>0.05), but most of white and black patients showed a higher frequency of mutant T allele than Han patients of Northwest China (P<0.05). Conclusions The mutation percentage of CYP2B6 (516G>T) gene loci related to propofol is about 1/3 in Han patients in Northwest China, which suggests proper reduction of propofol dosage for those patients under general anesthesia with propofol. Meanwhile, this gene polymorphism is correlated with ethnic differences through comparison of different populations around the world.