[Objective] The spatial distribution characteristics and impacts of land use transition in Haikou City were quantitatively identified in order to provide a scientific reference for land and space planning of Haikou City. [Methods] Based on a land use type transfer matrix, land function center of gravity migration, a wavelet coherence model, and other methods, the temporal and spatial characteristics of the land use transition in Haikou City from 2009 to 2018 and their influencing factors were studied. [Results] ① The area of urban living land in Haikou City increased over the past 10 years, while the area of agricultural production land decreased. Agricultural production land, woodland ecological land, and urban living land were the most widely distributed, and were distributed in the south, east, and north of Haikou City, respectively. The area of agricultural production land has primarily changed to areas devoted to industrial and mining production, urban living land, and rural living land. ② The center of gravity of production land in Haikou City has migrated to the northwest, with little spatial displacement. The center of gravity of ecological land has migrated to the southeast, and the center of gravity has shifted from Longtang Town to Yunlong Town. The center of gravity of residential land has migrated to the northweast, with the center of gravity now located in Longqiao Town. [Conclusion] Land use transition in Haikou City is most significantly affected by social factors, and economic factors have had the greatest impact on living land. Policy factors, such as land use planning and land remediation, can play a key role in promoting advantageous changes in land use.