Abstract: Quaternary loose strata which is formed with young age and large thickness provides the physical basis for land subsidence in the Yellow River Delta. The effects of tectonic movement, sediment consolidation and sea level rise on land subsidence have been long. In recent decades, the large-scale human activities of increasing exploitation of groundwater and oil and gas, high-rise building construction, etc, are becoming new triggers. The superimposition of various inducing factors have resulted in complication of spatial-temporal differentiation and formation mechanism. Based on leveling and relevant background data, this paper analyzes the characterization of land subsidence in Guangrao County and Dongying District where human activities are concentrated. After the comprehensive comparison of various human and natural subsidence factors, the annual subsidence contribution rate of groundwater overexploitation, large engineering construction, oil and gas exploitation, neotectonic movement, natural consolidation of sediment and sea level rise are approximately 28:4:2:3:2:1. Human activities have played a leading role on land subsidence.