Surface ozone(O₃) pollution poses a very serious threat to human health. O₃ pollution in China has been deteriorating since 2013. To evaluate the changes in O₃ pollution and its health effects in China from 2014 to 2018, this study utilized a novel data fusion method that combined surface monitoring observations, air quality model predictions and satellite retrieval data to obtain surface O₃ concentrations and spatial distributions, and then used the Environmental Benefits Mapping and Analysis Program-Community Edition (BenMAP-CE) model to estimate the number of O₃-related premature mortality in China in 2014 and 2018. The results showed that the annual average maximum daily 8-hour average O₃ (O₃-MDA8) concentration in 2018 (45.75 ppb) increased by 11.5%, compared to that in 2014 (41.02 ppb). The number of O₃-related premature mortality in 2014 and 2018 was 170 and 267 thousand, respectively, which increased by 57%. Among the nine regions in China, Central China had the largest increase in O₃ concentration and related premature deaths compared with the other regions, and the areas with population density of 10^₃ people / km^₂ had the largest increase in premature deaths. Henan, Hebei and Sichuan provinces had the most increase in O₃ premature deaths. The results demonstrated that the increasing degree of O₃-related premature mortality is significantly greater than that of O₃ concentration. O₃ pollution control in China is urgent, especially in populous regions such as Central China.