Objective The Yellow River Basin is an important ecological barrier and important economic zone in China. The analysis of the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of ecosystem service value (ESV)is of great significance to the ecological environment protection and high−quality sustainable development of the Yellow River Basin.

Methods The ESV in 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015 and 2020 was calculated, and the hot spot analysis method and eco−economic harmony index model were used to explore the high and low value aggregation distribution characteristics of the change rate of ESV and the degree of eco−economic harmony of cities in the Yellow River Basin, and relevant suggestions were put forward from the perspective of national land spatial planning.

Results ① The ESV of the Yellow River Basin will increase from 4021.733 billion yuan in 2000 to 4113.510 billion yuan in 2020. The ESV of grassland is the largest and that of unused land is the smallest. The service value of hydrological regulation, soil conservation and biodiversity maintenance is at a high level. ② The ESV of cities in the Yellow River Basin is characterized by the spatial distribution of "high in the south and low in the north, high in the middle reaches and lower in the upstream and downstream". From 2000 to 2020, the AESV in each region is relatively stable, and the overall pattern has not changed significantly. The high value area and low value area of ESV change rate in each stage show obvious aggregation state, and the aggregation areas are mainly concentrated in the north and east. ③ The GDP growth rate of the Yellow River Basin from 2000 to 2020 is much higher than that of the ecosystem service value, and the ecology and economy are at a low level of coordination and conflict.

Conclusions Although the ESV in the Yellow River Basin showed an increasing trend from 2000 to 2020, the growth rate was lower than GDP, and the coordination between ecology and economy was relatively low. In the future, it is necessary to strengthen and optimize the ecological security pattern to ensure the sustainable development of ecosystem service functions.