The present invention discloses a clustering routing optimization method based on adaptive evolutionary algorithm for a wireless sensor network, comprising following steps: performing population initialization by initial position and energy information of sensor nodes; calculating fitness values, and implementing iterative operation of elite preservation, adaptive crossover and mutation; after the iteration, selecting a cluster head; routing data packet of the cluster head to a base station. Convergence process of the evolutionary algorithm is improved by nonlinearly adjusting the probability of crossover and mutation; upper and lower bound of crossover and mutation operators are dynamically adjusted by fitness value; adding an incentive factor, adjusting the crossover and mutation probability when the fitness value tends to converge, and running the algorithm again to confirm that a new optimal value is generated. The global search capability and convergence speed of the algorithm are improved by the above method, and avoiding local convergence.