Study region: Yellow River Nine Provinces (China) Study focus: This study analyzes water consumption drivers in agriculture, industry, and domestic sectors using the LMDI method. It explores the relationship between water use and economic development via the decoupling model to identify key influencing factors and regional disparities. New hydrological insights for the region: The Water use intensity and economic growth had opposite effects, potentially leading to the Jevons paradox. Agricultural water-saving potential was high, with reductions in water use intensity contributing significantly in Inner Mongolia (-15.053), Shandong (-14.496), and Henan (-10.124). Industrial structure adjustments had a stronger negative impact on water use in developed provinces like Shandong (-0.425). In the domestic sector, rural consumption level played a significant role in increasing water use, with strong positive effects in Sichuan (3.754) and Henan (3.698). Urban per capita consumption showed the weakest decoupling from water use, particularly in Shandong and Henan. Strengthening agricultural water conservation, upgrading industrial structures, educating rural residents, and guiding urban water-saving habits can improve water sustainability in the Yellow River Basin.