IP address distribution method and device

The embodiment of the invention provides an IP address distribution method and device. The method and the device are applied to the communication field and can meet the control requirements of a network operator and a network supervisor based on different user number sections. The IP address distribution method includes the steps of receiving an IP address application sent by user equipment, wherein the IP address application includes a user number of the user equipment; obtaining an IP address pool corresponding to the user equipment in an IP address pool managed by a gateway to which the user equipment is to have access according to the mapping relations between the user number sections and an IP address pool index and according to the user number; allocating an IP address to the user equipment in the IP address pool corresponding to the user equipment. The IP address distribution method and device are used for control based on different user number sections.