Objective: To investigate the relation of apotosis and proliferation in human tongue squamous cell carcinoma in Uygur and Han. Methods: A total of 69 samples were studied, including 7 normal tongue mucosa, 20 cases of human tongue squamous cell papilloma (10 Uygur and 10 Han), and 42 cases of human tongue squamous cell carcinoma (30 well-differentiated, 12 with average differentiation). The samples were examined with immunohistochemical and in-situ cell-death detection techniques. Results: The apoptosis index (AI) and proliferation index (PI) in human tongue squamous cell carcinoma was not significantly different according to ethnic origins and sex. AI and PI increased more in human tongue squamous cell papilloma than in normal tongue mucosa. Proliferation was enhanced and apoptosis was inhibited as the histological grade decreased (p < 0.05). In human tongue squamous cell papilloma, well-differentiated carcinoma and middle-differentiated carcinoma, bcl-2 protein expression increased significantly (p < 0.05). In human tongue squamous cell papilloma, PI was positively related to AI (r = 0.713); in human tongue squamous cell carcinoma, PI was negatively related to AI (r = -0.701) and the expression of bcl-2 protein was positively related to AI (r = -0.684). Conclusion: Apoptosis and proliferation play a crucial role in tumor genesis and progression; the bcl-2 gene can encourage the accumulation of tumor cells by inhibiting apoptosis.