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It is of great significance to study the variation in reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and the factors that influence it to ensure the sustainable and efficient utilization of water resources. In this study, the spatio-temporal changes in ETo and rice areas as well as the relationship between them in Heilongjiang Province, China, from 1951 to 2018 were analysed by using trend, correlation and contribution analyses. The results showed that rice area expansion is an important factor affecting ETo changes. ETo in Heilongjiang Province decreased during the study period. The areas with high ETo in the Songnen and Sanjiang Plain showed a gradually shrinking trend. Climate change and rice area expansion both contributed to the decline in ETo. The decreases in sunshine duration and average wind speed in Heilongjiang Province were the main reasons for the decrease in ETo. Rice area in Heilongjiang province continued to increase at a rate of 0.54 × 105 ha yr−1. The expansion of rice area in Sanjiang Plain was the largest, followed by Songnen Plain. In response to the rice area expansion, the rise in average temperature slowed down, the average relative humidity was increased, while wind speed was reduced, which directly lead to the decrease in ETo. The effects of the transformation of different land types into rice fields on ETo were different. The cumulative effects of wetlands and dry fields conversion to rice fields on ETo were 7.67 mm yr−1 and − 20.15 mm yr−1 in Sanjiang Plain respectively. • Spatio-temporal changes in rice areas and ETo were analysed. • The relationship between meteorological variables and ETo was evaluated. • Sunshine duration and average wind speed were most closely related to ETo. • Rice area expansion and climate change in Heilongjiang Province decreased ETo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]