Abstract: According to the basic connotation of decoupling theory, this paper calculates the decoupling elastic coefficient D of Yunnan province's economic development and water resources pressure by using the data of water resource utilization rate and GDP growth rate from 2005 to 2015, and divides the decoupling status of water resources utilization and economic development during the study period according to economic development and water resources pressure decoupling state division standard, and then evaluates their decoupling states. The research shows that: from 2005 to 2015, the economic development of Yunnan province continued to grow| the water consumption growth rate shows the fluctuating state characteristics during the study period, and the water consumption is decreasing| in the change feature of the decoupling elastic coefficient D, D value is given priority to with negative values, and the research period D values are smaller. Under the current situation of economic growth in Yunnan, the economic development and the utilization of water resources show a good decoupling. In the change of the decoupling state, the characteristics of the two states——strong decoupling and weak decoupling——are presented. In terms of decoupling state composition, the strong decoupling counts for 63.6%, which showed a strong decoupling trend. It indicates the growth of yunnan's economic output, while the use of water resources is decreasing, and its economic development and water resources utilization show a more harmonious relationship. According to the research results, this paper puts forward some countermeasures and suggestions to optimize Yunnan's economic development and water resources utilization.

Key words: water resources, economic development, decoupling state, Yunnan province