[Objectives]  To evaluate the effects of five rice varieties on the life history and population dynamics of the brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, in central China, and thereby inform the prevention and control of this pest. [Methods]  The effects of five rice varieties (“Shen Liang you 3117”, “Jin you 957”, “Qi Liang you 908”, “Feng you 989” and “Shan you 63”) on the life history parameters of the brown planthopper were studied using two-sex life table. In addition, the population dynamics of N. lugens feeding on each of the five rice varieties was simulated with two-sex life table software. [Results]  Different rice cultivars had different effects on 4^th-5^th instar nymphs of the brown planthopper. Nymphs fed on “Qi Liang you 908” took significantly longer to develop than those fed the other four rice varieties (P<0.05). Planthoppers fed on “Shan you 63” and “Jin you 957” had significantly lower fecundity than those fed on the other three rice varieties (P<0.05), and those fed on “Qi Liang you 908” had a significantly lower survival rate than those fed on the other rice varieties (P<0.05). The five rice varieties can be ranked in terms of the net reproductive rate (R₀) of the brown rice planthoppers fed on them as follows; “Feng you 989” > “Shen Liang you 3117” > “Shan you 63” > “Jin you 957”> “Qi Liang you 908”. [Conclusion]  Brown planthoppers fed on “Qi Liang you 908” had a significantly lower survival rate than those fed on the other four rice varieties, and those fed on “Feng you 989” and “Shen Liang you 3117” had a significantly higher net population growth rate than those fed on the other four rice varieties.