The invention discloses a human face expression recognition method based on Curvelet transform and sparse learning. The method comprises the following steps: 1, inputting a human face expression image, carrying out the preprocessing of the human face expression image, and cutting and obtaining an eye region and a mouth region from the human face expression image after processing; 2, extracting the human face expression features through Curvelet transform, carrying out the Curvelet transform and feature extraction of the human face expression image after preprocessing, the eye region and the mouth region, carrying out the serial fusion of the three features, and obtaining fusion features; 3, carrying out the classification recognition based on the sparse learning, and respectively employing SRC for classification and recognition of the human face Curvelet features and fusion features; or respectively employing FDDL for classification and recognition of the human face Curvelet features and fusion features. The Curvelet transform employed in the method is a multi-scale geometric analysis tool, and can extract the multi-scale and multi-direction features. Meanwhile, the method employs a local region fusion method, and enables the fusion features to be better in imaging representing capability and feature discrimination capability.