[Objective] The coupling and coordination situation and driving mechanism of the socio-economic and eco-environment in the Yellow River basin were analyzed in order to provide a scientific basis for the overall developmental strategy of the Yellow River Basin Economic Belt.[Methods] On the basis of clarifying the coupling and coordination mechanism of social economy and ecological environment, the coupling coordination model was used to quantitatively measure the temporal and spatial pattern and relative development of the coupling and coordination of social economy and ecological environment in the Yellow River basin from 2009 to 2018.The driving effects of internal, government and external forces were studied through the fixed-effect regression model.[Results] ① The development of social economy and ecological environment in the Yellow River basin was insufficient and the overall level index was relatively small. ② The coupling and coordination value of the social economy and ecological environment of the Yellow River basin was between 0.354-0.562, which was in the running-in stage as a whole, and the coupling and coordination situation was within a marginally acceptable range. ③ The level of economic development, government capabilities, and the degree of opening to the outside world had a positive influence on the degree of coupling and coordination, and the level of regional innovation and industrial structure system had a significant negative impact on the degree of coupling and coordination.[Conclusion] In the context of the national strategy of ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River basin, it is necessary to continuously strengthen the optimization of the industrial structure, improve the ability of transforming regional innovation achievements, as well as coordinate and give full play to the superimposed effect of multiple driving factors.