To analyze the correlation between sex, age, disc degeneration, osteoarthritis of the intervertebral processes and vertebral body slippage and degenerative lumbar instability. Methods Lumbar MRI and standing hyperextension/hyperextension lateral radiographs were performed to observe the disc degeneration, intervertebral facet joint degeneration, and vertebral body slippage in L1~S15 motion segments. Lumbar instability was categorized into anterior horizontal displacement instability, posterior horizontal displacement instability and angular instability. Intervertebral disc degeneration was categorized into four levels. The degeneration of the facet joints was categorized into 4 levels. Lumbar spondylolisthesis was categorized into four grades. The results were analyzed by Spearman’s rank correlation. The results showed a positive correlation between anterior instability and disc degeneration, a negative correlation with intervertebral facet joint osteoarthritis, and a positive correlation with vertebral body slippage; posterior instability showed a positive correlation with age, a positive correlation with disc degeneration, a positive correlation with intervertebral facet joint osteoarthritis, and no significant correlation with vertebral body slippage. Conclusion: Degenerative lumbar instability was significantly correlated with various factors, but lumbar spondylolisthesis was not necessarily associated with instability.