[Objective] The sustainable development and the system coordinated development of the Yellow River basin was evaluated and analyzed, in order to provide theoretical reference for the sustainable development of the Yellow River basin. [Methods] According to 5 systems of resources, economy, society, ecological environment and science and technology, 37 indexes were selected to construct the sustainable development index system of the Yellow River basin. Nine provinces along the Yellow River basin from 2008 to 2018 were selected as the research objects. Entropy weight method and grey correlation analysis method were used to determine the index weight, and the coupling degree and coupling coordination degree of the five subsystems were calculated. Finally, the grey GM(1.1) model was used to predict the coupling coordination degree. [Results] The comprehensive evaluation index of sustainable development in the Yellow River basin was 0.214 5 and 0.410 2 in 2008 and 2018, respectively, showing an upward trend on the whole. From 2008 to 2018, the system coupling degree of the 9 provinces showed an upward trend. In 2008, the coupling degree of 4 provinces was in the running in stage, and the other 4 provinces was in the high running in stage, only the coupling degree of Gansu Province was in the antagonistic stage. In 2018, the coupling degree of all the 9 provinces was improved, and the coupling degree of the 9 provinces was at a high level of running in, but the coupling degree bettwen the provinces was different. The coupling coordination degree of the 9 provinces would be increased in the next 7 years. [Conclusion] The level of sustainable development in the Yellow River basin has been improved year by year, but there are differences in spatial coupling and coordination among provinces in the Yellow River basin.