Under the influence of multiple factors, shear walls will exhibit different deformation characteristics. A theoretical analysis was conducted to systematically investigate the deformation characteristics of shear walls with uniform cross-sections, with a particular focus on the effect of the aspect ratio. Subsequently, numerical simulations were performed to validate the theoretical predictions and ensure the reliability of the analytical conclusions. Cross-section stress and strain were adopted as the principal evaluation metrics to assess the influence of the ratio of the opening area to the wall area on the lateral and inter-story displacements of shear walls through comprehensive numerical simulations. In addition, refined finite element models were established to elucidate the effects of varying opening ratios on structural damage evolution and load-bearing capacity. The influence of ground motion intensity and aspect ratio on the deformation characteristics of shear walls was qualitatively analyzed through inductive reasoning, and a simplified analytical model was subsequently proposed. The findings suggest that shear deformation has a negligible influence when the aspect ratio of the shear wall approaches 4∶1. As the opening ratio increases, the distribution of cross-section stress and strain transitions from linear to nonlinear, accompanied by a reduced contribution from flexural deformation. Damage in perforated shear walls typically initiates at the edges of the openings, and an increase in the opening ratio leads to a progressive reduction in the ultimate load-bearing capacity of the wall. As the ground motion intensity increases and the aspect ratio becomes higher, the location of the maximum inter-story drift angle progressively shifts to the lower stories of the structure. Identifying the maximum deformation location based on ground motion intensity, wall opening ratio, and aspect ratio can effectively guide the arrangement of damping units.