Based on the Ecological Footprint theory and method, the ecological footprint and capacity of Shandong Province in 2001 is accounted in this paper, and the ecological deficit is also calculated. The results illustrate that the ecological footprint is 1.37720hm²·cap^-1, while the ecological capacity is only 0.58755hm²·cap^-1.So there is a ecological deficit of 0.78965hm²·cap^-1 in Shandong Province.These results indicate that the demand for ecologically productive land has surpassed the ability of supplying seriously. The ecological state is not optimistic during the process of economic development. As the ecological footprint is higher than the ecological capacity in the province but lower than that of the world, the development of economy is unsustainable on the scale of province but sustainable on the scale of the world. The outstanding status of heavy industry in the industrial structure and the coal-dominant energy consume are the main causes For the high value of ecological footprint. Further more, the large population may lead to the decrease ofecological capacity and increase of ecological footprint.In order to promote the sustainable and healthy development of economy, the industrial and energy consume structure should be optimized, population be controlled. And the resources-saving social production and consume pattern should be established.