Fully understanding the coupling and coordinated status of the water resources complex system composed of water resources

economy and society

and ecological environment is of great significance for alleviating regional water resources and ecological environment pressure

and achieving sustainable development of regional economy and society. This article combines the current situation and issues of water resources

economic and social development

and ecological environment protection in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region

evaluates the development level and coupling coordination degree of the water resources complex system in Ningxia as a whole and various prefecture-level cities from 2012 to 2021 based on a mutually adaptive coupling coordination evaluation index system

the AHP-CRITIC combined weight model and coupling coordination model. The results show that

from a time series perspective

the overall development level of Ningxia water resources complex system has been fluctuating upwards from 2012 to 2021

and the fluctuation pattern is basically consistent with that of the water resources subsystem. The water resources complex system is greatly influenced by the water resources subsystem. The coupling and coordination degree of Ningxia water resources complex system shows an overall fluctuating upward trend from 2012 to 2021

and the coupling coordination degree is in the range of near imbalance decline and primary coordination coupling. From the perspective of spatial layout

the comprehensive evaluation index of the water resources complex system in various prefecture-level cities in Ningxia has continued to improve from 2012 to 2021

with significant differences

and the coupling and coordination degree has generally improved after 2018. This study proposes a new method for evaluating the coupling and coordinated development of water resources complex systems

providing a powerful tool for in-depth analysis of the coupling and coordinated development status of water resources

economy and society

and ecological environment systems in Ningxia and even the northwest region. The main research content and conclusions have certain practical guidance significance for promoting regional sustainable development.