Abstract: A critical element of risk management is drought risk assessment. Through in-depth analysis of factors linked to drought risk, and application of principles of natural disaster management, a drought disaster risk assessment model was constructed. The model assesses the level of danger posed by the disaster-inducing factors, the vulnerability of the disaster-prone environment, the level of exposure of the territorial body, and disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities in place. The model was then used to conduct an assessment of drought risk for the southern part of China using GIS data and local meteorological, geographical environment and socio-economic data. The model indicated: 1) the higher risk areas for disaster-inducing factors are mainly in the mid-east of Yunnan province, on the boundary between Yunnan and Sichuan province, the mountain area of western Sichuan, the basin of eastern Sichuan and the eastern coastal area of Guangdong; 2) The more disaster-prone areas are mainly in the mid-east of Yunnan, the eastern Sichuan basin and northwestern Guizhou province; 3) The territorial bodies with greatest exposure are mainly in the eastern, coastal area and Leizhou peninsula of Guangdong province, the southern region of Guangxi province and the Sichuan basin; 4) Higher regional disaster prevention and mitigation capabilities are mainly found in western Chongqing, western Sichuan, northeastern Yunnan, central Guizhou, southern Guangxi and mid-east of Guangdong province; 5) Zones with high drought disaster risk are mainly in the eastern Sichuan basin, on the boundary between Yunnan and Sichuan, in northeastern Yunnan, southwestern Guangxi, northeastern Guangdong and the Leizhou peninsula. Zones with low drought disaster risk are found mainly in the eastern mountainous areas of Sichuan, and in eastern Guangdong and Guangxi provinces.