Electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is one of the most economical, sustainable, and attractive methods to produce hydrogen. Contemporarily, it is still a challenge to develop low-cost catalysts with high activity and durability for HER. Herein, we report a simple strategy to develop a Co-N-doped carbon electrocatalyst derived from a new cobalt metal-organic framework (MOF). The new flower-like 2D -> 3D MOF {[Co(BIPA)(5-OH-bdc)](DMF)}(n) (1) was constructed based on bis(4-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)phenyl)amine (BIPA) and 5-hydroxyisophthalic acid (5-OH-H(2)bdc). After that, the Co-N-doped carbon composite Co-MOF-800 was prepared via calcination of MOF 1. Interestingly, Co-MOF-800 exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity and durability for HER. The onset potential (0.12 V) and E-j=10 value (0.193 V) of the Co-MOF-800 electrode were comparable to that of the most active non-precious metal HER electrocatalysts derived from other MOFs. The HER performance of Co-MOF-800 was stable without degradation even after long-term cycling. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.