Abstract: To understand the relationship between energy consumption and economic growth of the Yangtze River Economic Zone, based on the data related to the energy consumption and the economic growth of the region from 1995 to 2015, an empirical analysis of their correlation are conducted. As indicated by the results, among all the energy consumption industries, the wholesale and retail industry and the accommodation and catering industry have the highest correlation degree with the economic growth, which is 0.88. The energy consumption of agriculture and industry has the lowest correlation degree with the economic growth, which is 0.50 and 0.52 respectively. Among all the energy consumption types, the correlation degree between the coal consumption and the economic growth is relatively low, while high quality energy like natural gas and electricity have an obvious correlation degree with the economic growth. In conclusion, the Yangtze River Economic Zone should make efforts to adjust the industrial structure and optimize the energy consumption structure in order to achieve green and low-carbon cycle development.