The invention relates to a color image encryption method based on Latin square scrambling. Plaintext keys r1, g1 and b1 are calculated through utilization of R, G and B components of a color plaintextimage, an initial value and a parameter obtained through calculation based on the keys are substituted into a chaotic system, and three groups of chaotic sequences are generated; the chaotic sequences for scrambling and diffusion are selected through utilization of a chaotic sequence selection mechanism based on the plaintext and digital arrangement; and a final ciphertext image is obtained through adoption of a block scrambling policy based on a Latin square and the chaotic sequences, and diffusion operation based on the plaintext and a scrambled image. The encryption method is closely related to the plaintext, so the plaintext attack resistance is improved. The employed chaotic system is an improved chaotic system, a chaotic characteristic is good, the randomness is high and a key spaceis great, so a security level is further improved. A simulation result and safety analysis show that according to the encryption provided by the invention, an image complete encryption demand can besatisfied, the encryption efficiency is high, and the robustness is high.