Study　region:　Hanjiang　River　Basin,　China　Study　focus:　Under　the　joint　influences　of　human　activities　and　climate　change,　droughts　frequently　occur　in　the　Hanjiang　River　Basin　(HRB).　Quantifying　the　driving　forces　contribution　on　hydrological　drought　is　crucial　to　enhance　the　early　warning　ability.　This　study　employed　the　standardized　streamflow　index　(SSI)　to　assess　hydrological　drought.　The　Soil　and　Water　Assessment　Tool　(SWAT)　model　was　utilized　to　reconstruct　natural　streamflow　based　on　hydrological　and　meteorological　data.　By　comparing　the　variations　of　drought　characteristics　in　simulated　and　observed　scenarios,　the　impacts　of　human　activities　and　climate　change　to　hydrological　drought　were　quantified.　New　hydrological　insights　for　the　study　region:　The　SWAT　model　is　capable　of　effectively　simulating　the　natural　streamflow　conditions　of　the　HRB　with　NSE＞0.7,　R2＞0.8,　logNSE＞0.7　and　|PBIAS|＜20　%.　Hydrological　drought　has　intensified　as　a　prolonged　duration　and　greater　severity　affected　by　human　activities　and　climate　change.　During　the　whole　impact　period　(1968–2022),　the　duration　and　severity　increased　by　66.22　%　and　81.16　%　compared　to　baseline　period　(1956–1967).　The　year　1991　is　detected　as　the　mutation　point.　From　1968–1990　climate　change　has　been　the　main　factor　in　exacerbating　hydrological　drought.　Since　1991,　the　influence　of　human　activities　has　gradually　exceeded　the　influence　of　climate　change.　These　findings　provide　valuable　insights　for　watershed　integrated　water　resources　management　and　water　security.　©　2024　The　Authors