Abstract: The main channel for the spread of the COVID-19 is the macro and micro population flow, and the flow of population and materials is an important means to promote economic development and ensure people's living standards. It is especially important for ethnic minority areas with relatively backward economic development. Based on the data, this article confirms that the population movement data has a strong correlation with the GDP, and quantitatively analyzes the population inflows and outflows and urban internal flows in ethnic minority areas during the COVID-19. It is found that China's urban population flow has showed a sharp decline at first and then a slow rise since the Spring Festival in 2020, and the decrease in population outflow and inflow reflects the fact that the COVID-19 has limited long-distance population movements, but short-distance mobility has been found to increase slightly based on internal flow of cities. The COVID-19 has a different impact on population mobility and economic activities in different ethnic minority areas, and its impact on the northwest minority national regions is particularly obvious, the average population flow of individual cities has dropped by more than 50%, and the impact on ethnic minority areas in southwestern regions is relatively small. By analyzing of population flow and economic changes in ethnic minority areas during the COVID-19, and characterizing the extent of the impact of the COVID-19 on each city, it is helpful to formulate more effective prevention, control strategies and poverty alleviation measures for these areas. The analysis results can provide the decision-making reference for relevant departments.