Abstract: Based on ArcGIS10.5, this paper uses the nearest neighbor index, geographic concentration index, imbalance index and nuclear density estimation to analyze the spatial distribution characteristics of 204 traditional villages in southern Hunan, and conducts spatial correlation analysis in terms of natural environment, social economy, historical and cultural factors. The results show that:(1) The spatial distribution of traditional villages in southern Hunan is agglomerated distribution, but the degree of aggregation is not high, the overall characteristic is ‘more in the south and less in the north, balanced in the east and west’. The high-density distribution areas are Beihu District, Xintian County, Changning County and Rucheng County. (2) There is a very significant positive correlation between river water system and the number of traditional villages in natural environmental factors, and a negative correlation between altitude and population density; the negative correlation between population density in social and economic factors is extremely significant; historical and cultural factors are the foundation for the traditional villages formation and development and affect the rise and fall of traditional villages. It is expected to provide a certain reference basis for the protection, development and cultural inheritance of traditional villages in southern Hunan.