Spatio-temporal matching between water resources and socio-economic factors in the Yangtze River Basin

The mismatch between water resources and socio-economic factors leads to the shortage of water resources in some areas, which restricts the sustainable development of the Yangtze River Basin. The study on the spatio-temporal matching between water resources and socio-economic factors in the Yangtze River Basin is the basis of coordinating their relationships, and is also the key to the sustainable utilization of water resources. The Gini coefficient and spatial equilibrium index were used to examine the spatio-temporal matching between water resources and socio-economy in the Yangtze River Basin from 2017 to 2021. The results show that the distribution of water resources in the Yangtze River Basin is relatively matched with the population, the distribution of water resources is reasonably matched with the GDP, the distribution of agricultural water use is completely matched with the GDP of primary industry, and the distribution of industrial water use is completely matched with the GDP of secondary industry. For the spatial distribution, the equilibrium between Tibet and Qinghai is poor. Chongqing's water resources are balanced with population and regional GDP. Hubei and Shanxi's agricultural water uses are balanced with primary industry GDP, and Hunan and Jiangxi's industrial water uses are balanced with secondary industry GDP.