The invention relates to the technical field of fault location of an alternating-current power grid, more particularly to a fault positioning method of a distribution network based on an electromagnetism-like mechanism algorithm. A fitness function is formed according to fault current information that is reported under the fault condition of a feeder terminal unit (FTU) as well as a topology structure of a distribution network; and on the basis of an electromagnetism-like mechanism algorithm with good rapid, accurate, and fault-tolerant performances, an optimal solution of the fitness functionis searched to locate a fault region. The method has characteristics of simple principle, great easiness in algorithm implementation, and high operation efficiency. The simulation verification showsthat the algorithm has the obvious advantages in terms of rapidness and high fault tolerance for fault positioning of the distribution network.