Abstract: The GIS spatial statistical tool was used to analyze the population data of 21 WorldPops in the arable land dam area of more than 5 000 mu in Guizhou Province from 2000 to 2020, and the spatial and temporal pattern and change characteristics of population distribution in the arable land dam area of more than 5 000 mu in Guizhou Province in the past 21 years were quantitatively revealed. The results showed that the population of arable land dam area in Guizhou Province showed a trend of increasing first and then decreasing. According to the characteristics of the population growth curve, it could be divided into four stages： stable growth period（2000—2006）, rapid fluctuation growth period（2006—2010）, rapid negative growth period（2010—2015） and slow decline period（2015—2020）, with an overall decrease of 9 900 people, of which 5 000 mu of arable land dam area increased by 9 400 people and 10 000 mu of arable land dam area decreased by 19 300 people; the population distribution of arable land dam area of more than 5 000 mu was mainly relatively lower-density agglomeration area and lower-density agglomeration area, and the population distribution difference was obvious; the spatial correlation of population density was generally manifested as no significant difference, and locally manifested as HH, LL and HL agglomerations; the migration range of the population center of gravity in the dam area was small, and the meridional and zonal changes showed a reciprocating trend.

Key words: arable land dam area, population distribution, spatial-temporal evolution, spatial autocorrelation, Guizhou Province