[Objective] The decoupling evolution of the construction of the land and economic development in Anhui Province was analyzed to provide theoretical basis for implement differentiation of land policy in Anhui Province. [Methods] First

time-series data were used to explore the evolution of decoupling between the cultivated land occupied by construction and economic development of Anhui Province in 2002 to 2013. Then

regionalization of 16 cities was conducted in Anhui Province according to their decoupling coefficients. Then a detailed analysis of the decoupling characteristics of different regions was made and the corresponding causes were given. [Results] Decoupled state of the cultivated land occupied by construction and the economic development in Anhui Province fluctuated over time. The decoupling between agricultural economic development and the cultivated land occupied by construction belonged stronger decoupling type. The situation of decoupling between non-farm economy and the cultivated land occupied by construction was not optimistic

it got slight improvement in 2005-2007

but rebounded from 2008 on. There was obvious regional differences in decoupling between the cultivated land occupied by construction and the economic development. And there was a strong correspondence between the distribution of decoupling type and regional industrial division. [Conclusion] The government should strengthen the supervision of the construction approval of the cultivated land occupation

and other measures as to increase the support for modern agriculture

to improve the efficiency and productivity of arable land

and to actively promote industrial restructuring and the construction of the main functional areas. All these measures are helpful to achieve the strong decoupling between economic development and the cultivated land occupation by construction.