Abstract: This paper takes the empirical study in regional differences of energy efficiency from 2001 to 2015 in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River，Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei，the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta regions by Theil index.Then based on Malmquist productivity index，the change of total factor energy efficiency in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River is decomposed，and compared with the other three regions.The results show that the total and between-region difference of energy efficiency are showing a trend of first increase and then decrease，and the latter is the main component of the former.The within-region difference of energy efficiency in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River is gradually reduced，but still higher than that in the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta region.The total factor energy efficiency in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River is mainly dependent on technological progress.Finally，some conclusions and suggestions are obtained according to the results of the analysis，such as adhere to the principle of “seek common ground while reserving differences” in the development of regional energy strategy，increase policy tilt to the middle reaches of the Yangtze River，accelerate technological progress，and actively carry out energy technology innovation，etc.