[Objective] The specific situation of water resources carrying capacity in Yantai City of Shandong Province was quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed, and the corresponding countermeasures and suggestions was put forward to improve the water resources carrying capacity, in order to provide a reference for the sustainable development of water resources in Yantai City.[Methods] The evaluation index system covering water resources, society, economy and water environment was established, and the comprehensive evaluation of the water resources carrying capacity of Yantai City from 2003 to 2018 was carried out by CRITIC-GR-TOPSIS method, with a relative closeness C_j as a comprehensive evaluation value. The larger the C_j, the higher the water resources carrying capacity. The obstacle degree model was used to quantify the impact of each indicator on the water resources carrying capacity.[Results] From 2003 to 2018, the water resources carrying capacity of Yantai City showed an overall upward trend, from 0.449 7 in 2003 to 0.578 3 in 2018. Through the calculation of the obstacle degree model, it was found that the influence of each index of the social and water environment subsystems on the carrying capacity of water resources continues to increase, while the impact of the related index of the economic subsystem on the carrying capacity of water resources in Yantai City was weakening. Each index of the water resources subsystem maintained a stable and high level of influence during this period.[Conclusion] From 2003 to 2018, the water resources carrying capacity of Yantai City has increased, but the increase rate, is not obvious, and there is still broad space for improvement in the future.