[Objective] The effects of the driving factors of rural green development were comprehensively determined in order to provide theoretical guidance for achieving overall green rural revitalization

and for economic and social development. [Methods] An evaluation index system for rural green development was established

and then the rural green development indexes of prefecture-level cities in Anhui Province from 2010 to 2020 were quantitatively analyzed using the principal component analysis method. A regression model was then constructed to investigate the effects of driving factors. [Results] ① The average level of rural green development in Anhui Province has been steadily increasing from 42.51 to 79.41 (annual increase of 8.68%). The average annual growth rate of the rural green development indexes in prefecture-level cities was between 5.71% and 10.94%

with that of Bengbu City increasing the fastest and Ma’anshan City increasing the slowest. ② The influencing effect of various driving factors in the province followed the order of industrial structure (0.065 1)＞economy (0.050 3)＞technology (0.041 0)＞population (0.033 1)＞policy (0.031 2)＞development status (0.017 6). ③ The effects in Northern Anhui were far more significant than the effects in Central and Southern Anhui. The first driving factor was industrial structure in Northern Anhui. The first driving factor was the economy in Central and Southern Anhui. The second and third driving factors were technology and population

respectively. The intensity of urban development was positively correlated with rural green development in Northern and Central Anhui

but negatively correlated with rural green development in Southern Anhui. [Conclusion] In order to promote rural green development

Anhui Province should utilize ecological advantages resulting from regional characteristics

pursue scientific and technological innovation

further optimize the industrial structure layout

accelerate the construction of new urbanization.