The purpose of this study is to contribute evidence towards heterogeneity in risk factors for single and recurrent falls.This is a prospective study conducted in Taiwan. Participants were randomly selected from the examinees of the annual health examination in 2010. Participants were interviewed with a detailed questionnaire and followed up one year later. Predictor variables included socio-demographic characteristics, medical conditions, laboratory data, and risk factors for osteoporosis. The outcome was falls in the ensuing 12months.The mean age of the 653 completers was 75.6±6.4. Half (48.7%) were women. Fallers and recurrent fallers comprised 14.5% and 6.0% of the participants, respectively. Blurred vision (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.93, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02–3.67), minimal outdoor activities (aOR: 2.28, 95% CI: 1.06–4.88), and overactive thyroid/parathyroid (aOR: 3.49, 95% CI: 1.29–9.50) were associated with single falls. Frailty (aOR: 2.81, 95% CI: 1.11–7.09), decreased body height (aOR: 3.15, 95% CI: 1.52–6.54) and taking sedatives/hypnotics (aOR: 4.23, 95% CI: 2.06–8.67) were associated with recurrent falls. Previous falls (aOR: 2.64, 95% CI: 1.44–4.84 for single falls; aOR: 5.26, 95% CI: 2.61–10.60 for recurrent falls) were associated with all falls.Different intervention strategies should be developed for single and recurrent fallers.