Abstract: Objective To investigate the correlation between tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and the development of high risk human papilloma virus (hr-HPV)-related cervical cancer. Methods A total of 112 cases of cervical tissue were collected, including 16 normal cervical tissues, 55 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) tissues and 41 squamous cervical cancer (SCC) tissues. The expression of CD163 + macrophages in the cervical tissues was detected by immunohistochemical method, and the results were analyzed in relation with the clinical data of the patients. Results Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the cell density of CD163+ macrophages increased progressively with the increase in the tissue malignancy, in the order of normal cervical tissue, CIN I, CIN II-III, and SCC. Correlation analysis revealed a positive relationship between CD163 + macrophage density and tissue malignancy (P=0.000). The density of CD163 + macrophages was significantly upregulated in HR-HPV-positive SCC tissue (P<0.05). CD163 + macrophages were positively correlated with cervical lymph node metastasis (P=0.005) and FIGO stage (P=0.004) of SCC. Conclusion The expression of CD163+ macrophages is positively correlated with malignant transformation of cervical tissues, and hr-HPV infection is significantly correlated with CD163 expression level in the macrophages. CD163 + macrophages can be used as predictors of the occurrence and progression of cervical cancer caused by hr-HPV infection.