Abstract: Water resources shortage is one of the core problems affecting the rapid growth and stability of economy in Kunming city. According to statistical data from Kunming Water Resource Bulletins from 2001 to 2012, the variation trend, temporal-spatial distributions, matching conditions and patterns of shortage of water resources in Kunming were analyzed by calculating the Gini coefficient, per capita water resources amount, utilization ratio, and load index of water resources. Results revealed that 1) the amount of per capita water resources in Kunming was less than the average values in Yunnan or in China with obvious uneven spatial distribution in the city: the average annual per capita water resources in four main urban areas reached the minimum 299 m³ per capita, while the extremes ratio was up to 10.78; 2)water resources matched well with cultivated land rather than GDP and population;3) water resources were rich in northern counties but poor in southern counties of Kunming city,and in addition, the number of regions in water shortage increased, with the shortage level deteriorating gradually;4) rainwater utilization, water conservation measures, interregional water transfer and industrial restructuring are effective countermeasures of water shortage in Kunming city.

Key words: matching of water resources, water resources shortage, Gini coefficient, distribution pattern, Kunming city