Objective To analyze the changes in the disease burden of stroke attributable to low physical activity in China from 1990 to 2021, and to provide a scientific basis for the development of prevention and control strategies for stroke. Methods Data on mortality, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for stroke attributable to low physical activity in China from 1990 to 2021 were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The disease burden of stroke attributable to low physical activity in China was analyzed by gender and age group from 1990 to 2021. The Joinpoint regression model was utilized to analyze the trends in disease burden. Results From 1990 to 2021, the number of deaths, mortality rates, YLLs, YLLs rates,YLDs, YLDs rates, DALYs, and DALYs rates attributable to low physical activity in China showed an upward trend, with increases of 129.80%, 90.48%, 97.39%, 63.26%, 216.74%, 162.17%, 112.94%, and 76.05%, respectively. The age-standardized mortality rate, age-standardized YLLs rate, and age-standardized DALYs rate showed a downward trend, with decreases of 20.14%, 25.68%, and 18.75%,respectively, while the age-standardized YLDs rate has increased by 18.26% compared to 1990. Joinpoint regression analysis results indicated that the average annual percent change (AAPC) for the age-standardized mortality rate, age-standardized YLLs rate, age-standardized DALYs rate, and age-standardized YLDs rate attributable to low physical activity from 1990 to 2021 were-0.72%, -0.96%, -0.68%, and 0.92%, respectively. Gender-stratified analysis revealed that in 2021, the age-standardized mortality rate, age-standardized YLLs rate, and age-standardized DALYs rate attributable to low physical activity were higher in males than in females. Meanwhile, the decline in the age-standardized mortality rate, age-standardized YLLs rate, and age-standardized DALYs rate attributable to low physical activity was more rapid in females compared to males. Age-stratified results indicated that the disease burden of stroke attributable to low physical activity increased with age but showed a trend toward affecting younger individuals. Conclusion The disease burden of stroke attributable to low physical activity in China remains substantial, indicating a need for targeted and comprehensive prevention and control measures, particularly for key populations such as the elderly, males, and middle-aged and young adults.