Based on the water resource inventory and the socio-economic environmental data collected in Shaanxi Province,we developed a water ecological risk index system according to the concept of Pressure-State-Response(PSR) and the regional ecological risk assessment theory.Combined with GIS technology and the AHP and the composite index methods,we analyzed the economic and demographic carrying capacity,and assessed the temporal and spatial changes of the ecological risks of the water resources.The results show that the water resource pressure and integrated risks increased rapidly as the economy and the population grew.Overall,the state risk was the highest,pressure risk moderate,and the response risk the smallest.Central,northern and southern parts of Shaanxi Province exhibited ecological risks in a descending order from high to low,respectively;specifically,Xi′an areaXianyang areaYulin areaWeinan areaBaoji areaYan′an areaHanzhong areaTongchuan areaAnkang area Shangluo area.The vulnerabilities of local natural environments,such as uneven spatiotemporal distribution of water resources,fast societal development,rapid economic growth,unbalance water ecology,water environmental degradation,and unstable economic system were the main driving forces causing water resource risks in Shaanxi Province.