[Objective] The landscape ecological risk assessment and driving factors in the Ordos-Yulin area was analyzed, in order to provide a scientific basis for the management and restoration of the ecological environment and the construction of the ecological security pattern in this area. [Methods] Based on the land use data of Ordos-Yulin area in 2000, 2010 and 2020, ArcGIS 10.2 and Fragstats 4.2 software were used to construct a landscape ecological risk assessment model based on the degree of landscape disturbance and landscape vulnerability. The dynamic analysis of landscape ecological risks was carried out at spatial and temporal scale, and the driving factors of its changes were detected by using geographic detector. [Results] ① Grassland, cultivated land and unused land were the main land use types in Ordos-Yulin area, and the intensity and speed of land use was the most active from 2010 to 2020. Grassland was the main type of transfer in and out. ② From 2000 to 2010, the areas with medium ecological risk, high ecological risk and high ecological risk showed an expansion trend, while the low ecological risk and low ecological risk showed a contraction trend. From 2010 to 2020, the areas with medium ecological risk, higher ecological risk, and low ecological risk showed a contraction trend, while areas with low ecological risk and lower ecological risk showed an expansion trend; ③ The global autocorrelation analysis of Moran’s I index in 2000, 2010, 2020 was greater than 0.8, showing a significant positive correlation in spatial distribution. Most ecological risk units presented high-high and low-low distribution, and a small number of ecological risk units were high-high and low. The distribution around the low-risk unit indicated that the ecological risk in the study area was relatively stable. ④ According to the analysis of geographic detectors, the degree of human disturbance had a strong explanatory power for landscape ecological risks, followed by NDVI. Various ecological protection activities directly promoted the improvement of NDVI. [Conclusion] Landscape ecological risks in Ordos-Yulin area are mainly affected by human activities, and human activities mainly ecological protection activities, can effectively reduce ecological risks. Accordingly, ecological protection measures should be strengthened to promote ecological security patterns in Ordos-Yulin area.