Based on the daily meteorological data of 68 stations in Northeast China during 1961 - 2010, daily reference evapotranspiration during maize growing duration was calculated by using Penman-Monteith formula. Combined with daily precipitation, a indicator-crop water deficit (CWD) was designed to indicate drought risk. The whole analysis period was divided into three 30-year period (1961 - 1990, 1971 - 2000 and 1981 - 2010 ). The probability distribution function of CWD was built and critical value of CWD was calculated with cumulative probability ≤5% ,≤15% and ≤25% , respectively. These values were set as a division criterion of severe-drought, moderate-drought and slight-drought and used to calculate pure premium rate according to different time scales. CWD was proved to be able to indicate drought risk of maize well in Northeast China. The investigation showed that drought risk of whole region increased from east to west during the period of 1961 - 2010, and the western region was taking drought risk throughout these years. Most stations showed a drought aggravation and the number of stations was decreasing from severe-drought to slight-drought. Pure premium rate based on CWD was close to the results based on yield loss (correlation coefficient was 0. 893), and it performed a decreasing trend after increasing in time series. Therefore, fair and scientific premium rate should be calculated considering the impact of climate change and appropriate adjustments should be made according to drought risk of each period.