[Objective] The changes of NDVI in the Beipan River basin of Guizhou Province and its relationship with terrain gradients and population distribution were studied in order to provide scientific reference for vegetation restoration, implementation of returning farmland to forest land, land space optimization and renovation in karst areas.[Methods] Based on NDVI data of the Beipan River basin in Guizhou Province from 2000 to 2018, the temporal and spatial change characteristics and their relationship with altitude, slope, population density and other influencing factors were analyzed.[Results] ① From 2000 to 2018, the NDVI of Beipanjiang River basin showed an overall upward trend, the annual average growth was stable, and the vegetation showed a trend of continuous recovery. ② In 2000, the spatial distribution of NDVI in the Beipanjiang River basin was the highest in the southeast while the lowest in the northwest. The distribution of the high NDVI area was fragmented in the central region. By 2018, the difference of NDVI values in different regions was significantly reduced, and the change was the most obvious in the low NDVI regions in the northwest and central region. ③ From 2000 to 2018, the areas with significant decrease, slight decrease and slight increase of NDVI in Beipanjiang were less than 10%. The area of the significantly increased region was 19 986.04 km², accounting for 90.93%. ④ From 2000 to 2018, the altitude effect of NDVI in the Beipanjiang River basin was characterized by phase changes. Among them, the NDVI value from 2000 to 2010 showed an overall downward trend with the increase of altitude, while the NDVI value from 2010 to 2018 showed an overall upward trend with the increase in altitude. The value of NDVI showed an up-down trend with the increase of slope. The value of NDVI decreased with the increase of population density.[Conclusion] Topographic factors laid the foundation for vegetation growth, while social and human factors had great influence on the variation of NDVI.