<p>China’s digital industry demonstrates significant spatial differentiation, with the eastern coastal regions leading the central, western, and northeastern areas. Drawing on theories of new economic geography, human capital, and technological innovation, this study constructs an analytical framework to examine these spatial differences. The development level of the digital industry in 30 provinces from 2013 to 2022 is measured using the entropy method, and spatial pattern characteristics are identified through ArcGIS. To analyze the influencing factors, the spatial Durbin model (SDM) is employed to assess the impacts of digital infrastructure, education level, technological innovation, and other economic variables on the development of the digital industry and its spatial spillover effects. The findings demonstrate that China’s digital industry has generally grown, shows significant positive spatial correlation, and presents a “high-low-high” distribution from east to west. Variation in digital infrastructure emerges as the primary driver of development, education level exhibits substantial spatial spillovers, and technological innovation fosters mainly local advancement. Government intervention, foreign investment, and industrial structure optimization positively contribute to digital industry growth, whereas higher social consumption levels exert a notable inhibitory effect. Accordingly, this study recommends expanding investment in digital infrastructure in the central, western, and northeastern regions, optimizing the allocation of educational resources, strengthening innovation capacity, and improving the business environment to reduce regional disparities and promote coordinated national digital industry development. These conclusions provide empirical evidence for understanding the spatial dynamics of China’s digital industry and offer guidance for designing balanced regional development policies.</p>