Abstract: The quantitative evaluation of sustainable development ability is a prerequisite for implementing the strategy of sustainable development，and it is also a key point to study the sustainable development. The ecological footprint model，a method developed by Canadian scholar Mathis Wackernagel，is used to measure sustainable development ability in this thesis. Based on the calculation of ecological footprint，the paper considers that the developmental ability index is one of the best indexes for evaluation. determined by calculating the land （ecological footprint） which needed by the human society who takes all consumption activities in a specific area，and the land （ecosystem carrying capacity） which can provide for biological and productive materials in the same area，we can compare the land （ecological footprint） to the land （ecosystem carrying capacity），so that it can help us to make a judgment for regional sustainable development. Adopting ecological footprint model，this thesis calculates an ecological footprint according to different land types and different consumption types in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region from 1991 to 2010. For the first time，it analyzes components of the Region’s ecological deficit，modifies the Ulanowicz model，and introduces ecological deficit（and surplus）for each 10 000 Yuan of GDP when using the calculating formula innovatively. Finally，it evaluates the sustainable development ability of the eco-economic system for a long time scale in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region objectively. The thesis owns something referential value and practical significance such as increasing the diversity of ecological footprint，making the best use of resources，controlling the energy consumption by appropriate policies and promoting the sustainable economic development of Ningxia. The results obtained indicate that the ecological deficit per cap in Ningxia is higher than the deficit per capita of the world （which is 0.4 hm2） and nationwide （0.68 hm2） from 1991 to 2010. During this period the ecological deficit per cap in Ningxia increased five-fold and the stability of the eco-economic system decreased by a significant degree. However，it has shown a tendency to improve in recent years. In the year of 2010，the utilization ratios of resources claim the highest efficiency，and its sustainable development ability of the region contributed toward a continuous rise. In 2010，the sustainable development ability of the eco-economic system was 2.993，which was the highest in twenty years and more than 16 times 20 years ago.

Key words: the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region； , ecological footprint； , development ability； , ecological deficit for each 10 000 Yuan GDP