[Objective] The gray water footprint was considered to evaluate the situation and trend of sustainable utilization of water resources in Jiangsu Province, and to provide scientific basis and policy support to some extent for the determination of reasonable water sustainable utilization strategies, and to give some innovative advices for water resources management.[Methods] The study calculated water footprint and its characteristics in Jiangsu Province from 2005 to 2015 by applying the water footprint theory, and analyzed the situation of sustainable utilization of water resource in terms of water footprint structure, social benefit, economic benefit and ecological security. In addition, GM(1,1) was used to predict the development trend in the next five years.[Results] ① The water footprint of Jiangsu Province showed an inverted U-shaped curve in the study period, got the highest(1.22×10¹⁰ m³) in 2011, and showed a fast declining trend. ② Jiangsu Province can self-supply (average water self-supplication is 88.1%) in supply water resources. It is in a high level of economic and social benefit, but still be in a state of serious water shortage. ③ According to the "Inertia development" situation, the water footprint in 2020 will have a 0.92% decline as compared with that in 2015.[Conclusion] As the strictest water resources control system was applied, water use efficiency has been improved, and the water resources utilization of Jiangsu Province presents a trend of sustainable development.