The shortage of water resources is a main bottleneck restricting the agricultural development in the arid regions of Northwest China. Correct assessment of regional agricultural water use efficiency and its impact mechanisms can provide a theoretical basis for improving agricultural water use efficiency. In this study,Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is taken as the study area; using the water footprint of crop production (WF) as an indicator of water consumption,the water footprints of typical crops (wheat and cotton) are calculated in North Xinjiang,South Xinjiang and East Xinjiang from 1988 through 2015. On this basis,the influencing factors were evaluated of changes in WF during the 28-year from the perspectives of change in climate (temperature,precipitation, sunshine hours,wind speed and relative humidity) and technical factors (agricultural machinery power, fertilizer consumption and the rate of effective irrigation) by the method of Cobb-Douglas production function. The results show that from 1988 through 2015,the water footprint of wheat and cotton in East Xinjiang had been significantly higher than that in North and South Xinjiang. Under the combined influence of climate change and technological progress,the water footprint of typical crop production in each region has been significantly reduced. Furthermore,the influence of technological progress on the water footprint of typical crop production in Xinjiang had been significantly higher than that of climatic factors,and become the main controlling factor driving the change of water footprint of typical crop production in various regions of Xinjiang. On the regional scale, climate change and agricultural technology development show significant regional differences. Overall,the climatic condition in North Xinjiang had been the most suitable for crop growth,while the climate in East Xinjiang had been the worst. The climate change over the 28 years in North and East Xinjiang had reduced the water demand of crops,while the situation in South Xinjiang had been reversed. The rate of agriculture technological development in North Xinjiang and South Xinjiang had been generally higher than that in East Xinjiang. However, to adjust the planting structure to give play to regional climate advantages and to improve agricultural water use efficiency in East Xinjiang are worth learning for other regions.