Abstract: By incorporating regional ecological footprint calculated based on the ecological footprint model into the analysis framework of total factor productivity measurement, this study evaluates the totalfactor ecological efficiency of regions in the Yangtze River Economic Belt during 2000-2014 using the SBM model. The empirical results show that: first, there exist significant regional disparity in the mean value and average annual growth rate of ecological footprint among regions in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The largest average ecological footprint in 2000-2014 is found in Jiangsu, while the smallest is Chongqing. Meanwhile, Jiangsu is found with the highest annual growth rate of ecological footprint, while the lowest is Shanghai. Second, the ecological efficiency of the whole Yangtze River Economic Belt shows an evolution trend of “decline first and then fluctuate” during 2000-2014. The totalfactor ecological efficiency score in the downstream area is the highest, followed by the midstream area, and the upstream area is at the bottom. Finally, there exist significant disparity in totalfactor ecological efficiency among provinces in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Shanghai is found with the highest ecological efficiency while Guizhou has the lowest. In general, the distribution pattern of ecological efficiency is presented as a gradual increase from west to east. Meanwhile, the regional disparity of total factor ecological efficiency in Yangtze River Economic Belt is found with a narrowing trend during the study period