Abstract: This study analyzed the spatial distribution pattern and internal differentiation characteristics of 992 national forest villages in the Yangtze River Delta.Mathematical statistics and spatial analysis were usedto reveal the influencing factors of the differentiation characteristics.This studyprovidedreferences fordecision-making on optimizing the zoning of forest villages. The findings were as follows: (1)The overall distribution of forest villages in the Yangtze River Delta region was relatively balanced, but there existed significant internal heterogeneity patternwithin the region. (2)The spatial distribution of forest villages exhibited a typical pattern of “large agglomeration and small dispersion”, with a multi-core “core-edge” structure in terms of aggregation form. (3)The spatial differentiation of forest villages was the result of the interaction of multiple factors, including industrial economy, social culture, and natural environment. Natural environmental factors werethe factors that influence the spatial differentiation of forest villages, exerting long-term influence on the spatial distribution pattern; while thehuman and social factors were the fundamental drivers of the evolution of the spatial patternof forest villages, which further amplified the spatial differentiation. (4)Based on comprehensive analysis of natural environment and socio-economic conditions, this study classifiedthe area intofour types of zones: agglomeration promotion zone, key development zone, moderate guidance zone, and urban fringe zone.Outcomes of this study provided a scientific basis for optimizing the zoning and implementing strategies for forest villages in the Yangtze River Delta at the county level.