Abstract: Objective As a critical ecological barrier in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, the Central Yunnan region faces prominent soil erosion issues, which have become a core environmental factor threatening local ecological security and sustainable development. Methods Based on the RUSLE model and GIS/RS technology, this study quantitatively inversed the spatiotemporal dynamics of soil erosion in Central Yunnan from 1990 to 2022. The Geodetector method was employed to systematically analyze the driving factors of natural and anthropogenic influences on soil erosion at two scales: the regional overall level and the sub-basin level. Results Soil erosion in Central Yunnan is predominantly slight and mild. Spatially, it exhibits a distribution pattern of "strong erosion in the northeast and river valleys, and weak erosion in the northwest," forming two major erosion core areas in southeastern Yongren and northeastern Yuanmou. As the research scale is refined, the dominant driving factors of soil erosion, their contribution levels, and the structure of their interaction effects show significant differences. At the sub-basin scale, the influence of vegetation coverage and land use type surpasses that of precipitation and slope, becoming the dominant factors. Furthermore, the impact of human activities intensifies as the scale decreases. High-risk areas are primarily distributed in grassland regions with elevations of 1000~2000 m, slopes > 35°, moderately weathered strata, and vegetation coverage of 10%~30%. Conclusions The research findings reveal the scale dependency and heterogeneity of driving factors for soil erosion in Central Yunnan, which can provide a scientific basis for differentiated and precise soil and water conservation measures.