A video predictive decoding method executed by a video predictive decoding device, comprising: an input step of inputting compressed picture data for each of a plurality of pictures constituting a video sequence, the compressed picture data containing data resulting from predictive coding using a plurality of reference pictures, which have been decoded and reproduced in the past, and encoded data of buffer description information BD[k] related to the plurality of reference pictures, the buffer description information BD[k] describing a number of reference pictures to be stored in the buffer and information to identify which reference picture is to be stored; a reconstruction step of decoding the compressed picture data to reconstruct a reproduced picture; a picture storage step of storing at least one said reproduced picture as a reference picture to be used for decoding of a subsequent picture; and a buffer management step of controlling the picture storage step, wherein, prior to reconstruction of the reproduced picture, the buffer management step comprises decoding, with reference to buffer description information BD[m] for another picture different from the reproduced picture, the encoded data of the buffer description information BD[k] for the reproduced picture, and then controlling the picture storage step on the basis of the decoded buffer description information BD[k], and wherein the decoding of the encoded data of the buffer description information BD[k] for the reproduced picture includes: decoding an index m identifying the buffer description information BD[m] for another picture different from the reproduced picture, decoding a value of deltaBD representing a difference between identification information of the corresponding reference pictures in the BD[m] and the BD[k], the identification information being a POC (picture output count) indicative of an order of output of the corresponding reference picture, decoding a plurality of flags ibd_flag[j] indicating both whether or not the j-th reference picture included in the BD[m] is used for decoding a current processing target picture and whether or not an identification information of a j-th reference picture included in the BD[m] is used for decoding an identification information of a reference picture included in the BD[k], and decoding an information on the reference picture in the BD[k] based on the decoded index m, the buffer description information BD[m], the decoded value of deltaBD and the decoded flags ibd_flag[j]. an input step of inputting compressed picture data for each of a plurality of pictures constituting a video sequence, the compressed picture data containing data resulting from predictive coding using a plurality of reference pictures, which have been decoded and reproduced in the past, and encoded data of buffer description information BD[k] related to the plurality of reference pictures, the buffer description information BD[k] describing a number of reference pictures to be stored in the buffer and information to identify which reference picture is to be stored; a reconstruction step of decoding the compressed picture data to reconstruct a reproduced picture; a picture storage step of storing at least one said reproduced picture as a reference picture to be used for decoding of a subsequent picture; and a buffer management step of controlling the picture storage step, decoding an index m identifying the buffer description information BD[m] for another picture different from the reproduced picture, decoding a value of deltaBD representing a difference between identification information of the corresponding reference pictures in the BD[m] and the BD[k], the identification information being a POC (picture output count) indicative of an order of output of the corresponding reference picture, decoding a plurality of flags ibd_flag[j] indicating both whether or not the j-th reference picture included in the BD[m] is used for decoding a current processing target picture and whether or not an identification information of a j-th reference picture included in the BD[m] is used for decoding an identification information of a reference picture included in the BD[k], and decoding an information on the reference picture in the BD[k] based on the decoded index m, the buffer description information BD[m], the decoded value of deltaBD and the decoded flags ibd_flag[j].