Abstract: This paper estimated the grey water footprint according to normal assessing standards for water footprint combined with GDP data. The grey water footprint efficiency of 31 provinces in China from 1998 to 2012 was measured. Using the extended Kaya identity and LMDI method,the impacts of efficiency effect,structure effect,economic effect,endowment effect,development effect and technique effect on grey water footprint efficiency were examined. We also calculated the average of the absolute contribution rate of effect decomposition of grey water footprint efficiency in China,and the LSE model was applied to determine the spatial driver. The results clearly indicate that during the study period the average grey water footprint in China was 4814.30 ×10⁸m³,and grey water footprint efficiency went from 16.30 CNY per cubic meter in 1998 to 89.32 CNY per cubic meter in 2012. Economically developed areas were higher than economically backward regions. The efficiency effect,economic effect,development effect and technique effect have positive impacts on grey water footprint efficiency;the structure effect and endowment effect have negative effects on grey water footprint efficiency;the effect of grey water footprint efficiency changes mainly because of the efficiency effect and economic effect. Grey water footprint efficiency space drive types of China including two factors effect type,two factors effect type II,three factors effect,four factors effect type I,four factors effect type II and five factors effect. The results of the research provide new ideas for research into water use efficiency and provide theoretical support for the rational utilization of regional water resources.

Key words: China, driving effect, driving pattern, grey water footprint efficiency, water resource utilization efficiency