<i>Background/Aims:</i> We intended to compare the risk and prevalence of hypertension in patients undergoing renal biopsy with those of the general population and to investigate the possible effects of various independent factors (age, sex and degree of renal insufficiency) on the prevalence of hypertension. <i>Methods:</i> Data obtained within the Czech Registry of Renal Biopsies over an 8-year period (1995–2002) were statistically evaluated and compared with those of the general population obtained within the Post-MONICA Study conducted in 2000/2001. <i>Results:</i>Hypertension was present in 1,839 out of a total of 3,601 renal patients (51.1%). The risk of hypertension in the patients with renal disease was increased in all age groups compared with the general population (OR = 1.3–5.3). The prevalence of hypertension increased significantly with age, serum creatinine and proteinuria (p < 0.001). Male sex was identified as an independent risk factor for the presence of hypertension (p < 0.01). Sex, age and glomerular filtration rate were shown to be more important determinants of the risk of hypertension than the underlying biopsy-proven diagnosis itself. <i>Conclusion:</i> Hypertension occurs as a common complication of renal disease, even in its early stages, and irrespective of the histological finding.