The invention provides an adaptive current protection system and method for a power distribution network. The adaptive current protection system comprises a fault data acquisition module, an symmetrical short circuit protection setting module, an asymmetrical short circuit protection setting module and a fault recognition module; and the adaptive current protection method comprises the steps of determining the fault type of the current power distribution network; calculating a current quick break protection setting value and a time limit current quick break protection setting value in an symmetrical short circuit fault and an asymmetrical short circuit fault; and comparing protection setting values with current measurement values and protecting the power distribution network. According to the system and the method provided by the invention, an equivalent model is established by measuring electrical quantity, so that difficulty of a large amount of calculation of equivalence of an external system and the equivalence cannot be accurately calculated caused by uncertainty of output of the distributed type power supply can be avoided; the protection range of adaptive current main protection and backup protection is effectively expanded; even if in a two-phase short-circuit adverse condition, the main protection range still can be greater than 70% of the circuit; reliable actions under the symmetrical fault and the asymmetrical fault can be both performed; and it is ensured that the fault of the power distribution network can be removed effectively and reliably.