Biogas　will　be　frequently　utilized　as　a　clean　and　renewable　energy　source　in　China＇s　rural　areas　in　the　future　because　of　the　abundant　agricultural　waste　produced　in　this　country.　Thus,　the　actual　utilization　ratio　and　development　potential　of　biogas　from　agricultural　waste　must　be　immediately　determined.　In　this　study,　the　theoretical　biogas　potential　from　agricultural　waste　(BPAW)　was　calculated,　and　the　spatial　and　temporal　distribution　characteristics　of　the　theoretical　potential　and　utilization　ratio　of　biogas　from　agricultural　waste　(URBAW)　in　China　from　2008　to　2017　were　examined　via　geographical　information　system　(GIS)　spatial　analysis.　The　correlation　between　actual　biogas　production　in　rural　areas　and　its　influencing　factors　was　also　analyzed.　Finally,　the　development　potential　of　biogas　from　agricultural　waste　in　China　in　2017　was　assessed　using　principal　component　analysis.　Results　indicated　that　crop　straw　and　livestock　excreta,　which　accounted　for　over　97%　of　total　BPAW,　were　the　major　resources　for　biogas　potential　from　agricultural　waste　in　China　in　2008–2017.　The　results　also　showed　evident　hot　spots　distributed　in　South　and　Southwest　China　and　cold　spots　distributed　in　North　and　Northeast　China　of　the　URBAW　from　2008　to　2017.　Moreover,　the　assessment　result　demonstrated　uneven　distribution　of　the　development　potential　of　biogas　from　agricultural　waste　in　China　in　2017.　The　highest　assessment　value　of　the　development　potential　of　biogas　from　agricultural　waste　was　0.78　in　Shandong,　followed　by　0.75　in　Henan,　and　the　lowest　was　0　in　Shanghai.　Recommendations　for　developing　biogas　from　agricultural　waste　in　China　were　provided.　©　2021　Elsevier　Ltd