[Objective] The spatial and temporal evolution and driving factors of agricultural land allocation efficiency were analyzed in order to provide theoretical support and scientific reference for the practice of the all-encompassing approach to food, the effective utilization of agricultural resources and the high-quality development of agriculture. [Methods] The article was based on the concept of the all-encompassing approach to food. Using a three-stage data envelopment analysis (DEA) model, Dagum’s Gini coefficient, kernel density estimation and panel Tobit regression, the article measures the allocation efficiency of agricultural land in 30 provinces in China from 2004 to 2022, and analyzed the characteristics of the spatial and temporal evolution and the driving factors. [Results] The overall level of agricultural land allocation efficiency in China was high and stable, and after removing the effects of environmental factors and random errors, the spatial characteristics of allocation efficiency were reversed, and eventually showed a decreasing trend of central-northeastern-eastern-western; and the overall differences between regions showed a fluctuating upward trend, with hypervariable density dominating the overall differences; There was some spatial polarization phenomenon in all regions; urbanization rate, ecological governance, agricultural technology progress had a significant positive effect on the allocation efficiency of agricultural land, rural road facilities and residents’ food and nutritional needs had a significant negative effect, and the effect of financial support for agriculture was not significant. [Conclusion] We should correctly understand and exert the influence of food consumption structure on the allocation of agricultural land, deeply implement the practice of green ecological agriculture, and realize the organic combination of the government and the market, so as to improve the efficiency of agricultural land allocation in all aspects.