Agricultural drought, a prolonged disaster with widespread impacts, exerts tremendous pressure on farm household activities, agricultural production, and economic development. The western region of Jilin Province, China, located in a semi-arid zone, where persistents drought exacerbates ecological fragility. With a larger proportion of its population living in rural areas, the life and production activities of households are particularly susceptible to drought-related challenges. This study focuses on the western part of Jilin Province, utilizing remote sensing data to calculate the temperature vegetation dryness index (TVDI) as a soil moisture monitoring indicator for drought assessment. The livelihood vulnerability index (LVI) and the improved LVI-Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) index are employed to comprehensively assess the livelihood vulnerability of communes in the region and the impact of drought conditions on farmers' livelihood vulnerability. The results reveal a spatial trend of increasing drought severity from northeast to southwest, with temporally minor fluctuations observed in drought levels from 2005 to 2022. Livelihood vulnerability results indicate significant spatial and temporal variations, with education, health, food, and water playing key roles. Correlation analysis indicates a strong relationship between TVDI and LVI, highlighting the detrimental impact of drought on farmers' livelihoods. The study aims to provide a scientific foundation for managing livelihood vulnerability in the western part of Jilin Province and similar arid areas. Additionally, it seeks to offer strategic recommendations for policymakers to mitigate the adverse effects of drought, thereby reducing farmers' vulnerability and fostering sustainable socio-economic development.