The invention provides a vacuum desalination system and process. The system comprises a water pumping and preheating device, a vacuum distillation device, a fresh water storage device, and a system control device which is electrically connected with the vacuum distillation device and the fresh water storage device, wherein the water pumping and preheating device, the vacuum distillation device, the fresh water storage device and the system control device are sequentially connected. The water pumping and preheating device comprises a seawater filter and a seawater preheating pool. The vacuum distillation device comprises a seawater heater and a steam condenser. The fresh water storage device comprises a closed vacuum fresh water tank and a vacuum pump communicated with the vacuum fresh water tank. According to the vacuum desalination system and process, the seawater to be desalted is preheated through waste heat of the concentrated seawater generated after evaporation is conducted through the seawater heater, fresh water steam is condensed through temperature difference between the seawater and the steam, the waste heat generated by the system and energy of the nature are fully utilized, and thus the system has the functions of energy conservation and environment protection; the vacuum pump is arranged on the system to provide the functions of vacuum degree and water pumping for the system, and one pump is used for multiple purposes; through the desalination process based on the vacuum desalination system, fresh water production is higher than that of products and processes of the same heat collecting temperature.