[Objective] The response characteristics of vegetation NDVI to population density change were explored to reveal the migration track of vegetation NDVI and population density center of gravity in the Bohai Rim region, in order to provide a theoretical basis for vegetation monitoring and management and ecological environment protection in the region. [Methods] Based on the MOD13A3 NDVI and population density time series from 2000 to 2020, the methods of Theil-Sen Median analysis, Mann-Kendall significance test, Granger causality test, Getis-Ord G_i^* analysis, and center of gravity transfer model were used to study the spatio-temporal variation of vegetation cover and the hotspot variation of population density. [Results] ① from 2000 to 2020, NDVI in the Bohai Rim region showed an upward trend, with an upward slope of 0.022/10 a, and the area of NDVI rising was much larger than that of falling area. The rising rate of NDVI from 2000 to 2010 was significantly higher than that from 2010 to 2020. ② From 2000 to 2020, the proportion of hot spots and cold spots in the change of population density in the Bohai Rim region was 11.26% and 46.84% respectively. The change of population density was mainly in the cold spot region, which mainly extended in strips from the northeast of the Bohai Rim region to the northwest and some areas in the southeast of Shandong Province. ③ There was a one-way Granger cause of population density on NDVI around the Bohai Sea. The change of population density was the Granger cause of the change of NDVI, while the change of NDVI was not the Granger cause of the change of population density. On the whole, the growth of population density mainly had a negative effect on regional NDVI. The higher the degree of population agglomeration, the more significant the decline of NDVI. ④ There was no obvious spatial pattern in the migration direction of NDVI center of gravity of vegetation from 2000 to 2020, but it generally migrated to the northwest, and the center of gravity of population density migrated from the southeast to the northwest. [Conclusion] From 2000 to 2020, the NDVI in the Bohai Rim region shows an upward trend. The increase of population density has a negative impact on the change of NDVI. Further study needs to be conducted considering the impact of population density change and climate change on NDVI change in the Bohai Rim region.