Research on carrying capacity as an important indicator describing the state of regional urbanrural systems is quite important. Based on an analysis of urbanrural system elements characteristics and mechanism

mathematical models were established to evaluate regional comprehensive carrying capacity and development expenditure level. These models were applied to a case study of Hainan Province

P. R. China

using statistical data from 1995 to 2005. The conclusions are as follows: (1) During this period

the carrying capacity of the regional urbanrural system in Hainan fluctuated

and the capacity was overloaded from 1995 to 1998

under loaded from 1999 to 2001

and overloaded again from 2002 to 2005. (2) The degree of coordination between the regional natural and socioeconomic carrying systems is 0.60

three times the regional multiple carrying capacity. Both the socioeconomic and natural carrying capacities rose unsteadily

averaging 0.30 and 0.11

respectively. (3) The contribution of various carrying factors to regional multiple carrying capacity is quite different. Carrying capacity factors include socioeconomic development

human resources

imports

environmental and resource possession. Their average rates of contribution were 31.40%

22.71%

18.79%

13.64% and 13.45%

respectively. (4) From 1995 to 2004

economic development expenditures were the principal part of all regional expenditures

the contributing 61.88%. In 2005

export expenditures exceeded economic development expenditures

becoming an important part of the all regional expenditures.