In order to analyze the influencing factors and their correlations of water use efficiency, incorporate all independent variables and overcome multicollinearity, the partial least squares method was used to study the correlation factors of water use efficiency in 2019 in China. The results show that the partial least square method can describe the correlation between variables effectively. Factors that are highly correlated with water consumption per ten thousand Yuan of GDP are natural conditions, social development level, GDP proportion of added value of primary industry, and the proportion of labor force in the water industry. The overall economic water use efficiency is high in the eastern region and low in the western region. Factors that are highly correlated with actual irrigation water consumption per mu of cultivated land are natural conditions and GDP proportion of added value of primary and secondary industries. Agricultural water use efficiency is high in the central region and low in the western region. Factors highly correlated with the water consumption per ten thousand Yuan of industrial added value are natural conditions, sewage treatment rate, urbanization rate and the capital proportion of water industry. Industrial water efficiency is high in the eastern region and low in the central region. Factors highly correlated with per capita public water consumption are per capita water resources, annual precipitation, sewage treatment rate, per capita GDP and GDP proportion of added value of primary and secondary industries. There is little correlation between regional factors and public water use efficiency. The research results can provide reference for the optimal management and rational utilization of water resources.