Southwest China is an important region for maize production, accounting for about 15% of the total maize area and output in China. There were abundant rainfall and humid climate in Southwest China. But in recent years, severe drought events often occurred there, which caused huge damage to local social economy and attracted widespread interest. Agro-drought risk analysis is helpful for improving the ability of regional disaster management and reducing potential drought risk. In this paper, the daily meteorological observations from 60 stations and the data related to maize agricultural production in Southwest China during the period of 1961-2012 were used. Based on natural disaster risk theory, maize drought risk assessment model was established from four factors: hazard, exposure, vulnerability, drought prevention and mitigation, and maize drought risk was zoned and analyzed in Southwest China. It showed that maize spring drought mainly occurred in most of District I, District II and District III, maize summer drought appeared in north of District I, most of District III and District IV, District V and District VI. High and sub high drought hazard zones of maize in whole growth period were mainly located in District III, parts of DistrictI and District II. High and sub high exposure zones were mainly located in District II and District III; high and sub high vulnerable zones mainly were distributed in east of District II, parts of District IV and District V; low and sub low drought prevention and mitigation zones were located in parts of District II and District IV. The results showed that maize drought high risk and sub high zones in Southwest China were mainly located in District III, small parts of District I, District II, District IV and District V, in the majority of which maize drought hazards in whole growth period were high or sub high, maize area ratios were higher than maize average area ratio in Southwest, and maize yield per unit was higher than maize average yield per unit in Southwest. Moderate risk zones were mainly located in District V and District VI, in the majority of which maize drought hazards in whole growth period were moderate, maize area ratios, yield fluctuations and yield levels were comparable to maize average productivity level in Southwest. Low and sub low risk zones were mainly distributed in central of District I, southwest of District II, south and east of District IV, where maize drought hazards in whole growth period were low, and maize productivity levels were different. The study provides a theoretical basis for the maize production risk management and sustainable development in Southwest China.