Study region: The Hexi Corridor, China, comprising the Shiyang River Basin (SYRB), Heihe River Basin (HRB), and Shule River Basin (SLRB), arranged from east to west. Study focus: Using GRACE satellite data, this study investigates the spatiotemporal variations in groundwater storage anomalies (GWSA) across the Hexi Corridor from 2003 to 2023, at both regional and basin scales. By applying a water balance approach, we separate the influences of natural processes and human activities on groundwater changes. We also analyze differences in precipitation, temperature, population migration, land use, and other factors among the three basins to understand how these differences affect groundwater dynamics. New hydrological insights: GWSA in the Hexi Corridor declined at a rate of 0.26 cm & sdot;yr-1 from 2003 to 2023, with the most significant decrease observed in SYRB, followed by HRB. While both natural and anthropogenic factors contributed to groundwater depletion, human activities had a stronger influence in SYRB, whereas natural drivers were more significant in SLRB. Under natural conditions, declining precipitation, rising temperatures, and intensified evaporation have disrupted the balance between groundwater recharge and consumption. Meanwhile, intensified human activities-such as urban population growth, ecological afforestation, land surface modifications, and industrial expansion-have further altered regional hydrological processes, exacerbating groundwater loss. This study enhances our understanding of GWSA trends in arid regions and offers a scientific foundation for sustainable water resource management in the Hexi Corridor.