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This study aims to assess the level of development of the digital economy by constructing a comprehensive measurement system. It explores regional differences within China’s digital economy, highlighting the varying degrees of digital infrastructure, industrialization, governance and innovation capabilities across provinces.

A multidimensional analytical framework including digital infrastructure, industrialization, digitization, governance and innovation was developed. Entropy methods were used to calculate the weights of each dimension. The coupled coordination degree model and the Tobit model with random effects panel are applied to analyze the current situation, discrepancies and influencing factors.

This study reveals significant regional differences in the development of China’s digital economy, characterized by a pattern of “strong in the east, weak in the west; high in the south, low in the north.” This geographical imbalance exacerbates the “polarization effect” and the “siphon effect,” where resources and growth tend to concentrate in already developed areas, further intensifying regional inequalities. The development of the digital economy is driven by principles of innovation, coordination and sharing, which facilitate the creation and dissemination of new technologies and collaboration across different sectors. However, this progress is also constrained by considerations of environmental sustainability (green) and economic openness.

This paper contributes to the body of knowledge by providing a novel multidimensional measurement system for the level of digital economy development. The unique application of the coupled coordination degree model and Tobit model to analyze regional differences and influencing factors provides insights into the dynamics of China’s digital economy.