Abstract: [Objective] To addresses the current situation and existing problems of man-land relationship in pastoral areas of Inner Mongolia, and to alleviate the fragile ecological environment and backward economic development and promote the orderly and harmonious development of grassland ecological protection and social economy by coordinating man-land relationship in these areas. [Method] Through analyzing the population status, the relationship between population and grassland resource carrying capacity, and the relationship between population distribution and grassland degradation in pastoral areas of Inner Mongolia, the main problems in the relationship between human and lands were explored. [Result] In the years of 2000, 2010 and 2015, the grassland resource carrying capacity index （LCCI） in pastoral areas of Inner Mongolia was 3.68, 3.88 and 3.89, respectively, all over 1.250. From the year of 2000 to 2015, with the increase of population in pastoral areas, the LCCI showed an upward trend. Each banner or town in pastoral areas of Inner Mongolia had a grassland degradation index of less than 90%.[Conclusion] In pastoral areas of Inner Mongolia, population distribution was uneven, with the total population and animal husbandry population dense in the southeast and scarce in the west and north. Population overload was characterized the relationship between population and grassland resource carrying capacity in pastoral areas of Inner Mongolia, and the degree of population overload grew from the year of 2000 to 2015.

Key words: population, grassland resource, ecological carrying capacity, pastoral areas, Inner Mongolia