Soil samples were collected from different latosol profiles in the western Hainan Province, and according to the contents of REE elements of these samples, compositions and laws of their spatial variation of the REE elements in latosol profiles were studied. Results showed that soil forming parent materials determine contents of primary REEs of the soils, and the LREEs accumulated during the formation and development of the latosol. The study also indicated that the total REEs increased with the depth of the soil profiles, but Ce turned from positive anomaly to negative anomaly, suggesting that leaching may be the main reason for variation of the vertical distribution of the REEs in the soils.