Abstract: Based on the review of the development process of development zones and domestic and foreign research status of development zones evaluation theory, the paper analyzes the correlation of the major economic indexes in the 66 national economic development zones in eastern China and the provinces which they belong to. Factor analysis and cluster analysis are used to study the leading effect of national development zones on regional economic development. The results show that the national development zones have significant leading effect on the development of regional economy. It is also found that there is no significant correlation between the strength of leading effect of development zone to regional economy and the size of it. The leading effect of national development zones in Beijing, Guangdong, Fujian and Shandong Provinces are relatively lower compared with other eastern coastal provinces. The national development zones of Hebei province have not played their due role in driving the development of the regional economy.