[Objective] The spatial and temporal distribution characteristics and variation trend of long-term sequence rainfall erosivity in loess hilly and gully region during 1970—2020 were explored, and the main driving force of soil erosion in this region and its dynamic change law were revealed, in order to provide a useful reference for formulating regional soil and water conservation prevention and control strategies and repairing fragile Loess Plateau ecosystem. [Method] Based on the rainfall data of 67 meteorological stations in the region from 1970 to 2020, a simple algorithm model based on daily rainfall, Machisplin interpolation method, Mann-Kendall method and wavelet analysis method were used to study the abrupt change point, trend change, periodicity and spatial distribution characteristics of the time series of rainfall erosive power in the hilly and gully region of Loess Plateau in the middle reaches of the Yellow River. [Results] The average annual rainfall erosivity range in this region was 739.97～1749.03 (MJ·mm)/(hm²·h), spatially decreasing from southeast to northwest. The overall erosive power of rainfall weakly increased interannually, with highest and lowest annual values of 1915.09 MJ and 741.18 (MJ·mm)/(hm²·h) in 2013 and 1974, respectively. The rainfall erosivity intensity was markedly stronger in the warm season than in the cold season, with an average annual rainfall erosivity of 599.01～1742.95 and 27.61～171.11 (MJ·mm)/(hm²·h), respectively. [Conclusion] The erosive power of rainfall in this area decreased from southeast to northwest, and the annual average erosive power of rainfall trended upward, but with notable interannual fluctuations. The increasing erosive power of rainfall in loess hilly and gully areas not only improves local climate conditions but also poses challenges to the stable functioning of local soil and water conservation measures and soil erosion control work.