The coupling coordination model for the relationship between water use efficiency and economic development in Nanjing is established based on the time series data of water use efficiency and economic development from 2007 to 2014. and the dynamic equilibrium relationship between the two aspects are studied. The status of water use efficiency and economic development in Nanjing is evaluated, and their coupling coordination degree is quantitatively analyzed. The results show that the levels of water use efficiency and economic development both have great growth from 2007 to 2014. Their coupling coordination relation fluctuates and generally tends toward a good state, and it is at the low coordination coupling stage in 2007, at the moderate coordination coupling stage in 2008 and at the high coordination coupling stage from 2009 to 2014. Only the water use efficiency and economic development both can maintain the rising tendency of the coupling coordination degree. Finally, some suggestions for the future development are proposed to solve the shortage of the two systems: optimization of structure of water network and strengthening of water pollution treatment in the field area of water use efficiency, readjustment of economic structure and strengthening of economic vitality in the field of economic development.