Objective Water resources in China exhibit significant spatial differences. In-depth investigation of these differences and identification of regions with similar characteristics can help optimize water resource management strategies and solutions.

Methods Based on hydrological, ecological, and water use indicators and using data from the 10 primary water resource regions in China during 2021–2023 and their multi-year averages, Pearson correlation analysis and regression analysis were employed to explore relationships among variables, and principal component analysis was used for regional classification.

Results 1) Precipitation amount, runoff depth, and vegetation coverage in the southern regions were all higher than those in the northern regions, while total precipitation among the southern regions showed a relatively stable trend. 2) The Yangtze River Area had the most abundant surface water resources, while the northern regions had higher groundwater resources. 3) Hydrological processes were synergistically driven by multiple factors, including climate and water use. Precipitation amount was positively correlated with vegetation coverage, runoff volume was positively correlated with groundwater resources, and runoff depth was significantly negatively correlated with annual sunshine hours. 4) The Songhua River Area, Liao River Area, Hai River Area, Yellow River Area, and Huai River Area were classified as water-scarce areas, while the Yangtze River Area, Pearl River Area, and Southwest River Area were identified as relatively water-abundant areas.

Conclusions This study conducts water resource zoning based on the revealed synergistic mechanisms of regional differences. Differentiated management strategies should be implemented in water-scarce and water-abundant areas. The findings provide theoretical support for improving water use efficiency and optimizing water resource utilization schemes.