In order to comprehensively understand the current situation of global hydropower development, and to analyze the development potential of global hydropower and the international hydropower market,the current situation of global hydropower development in recent years was analyzed based on the hydropower annual reports released by the International Hydropower Association. It is found that the total installed capacity of global hydropower continues to increase, and affected by the continuous COVID-19 and the 2050 carbon neutrality target,the increaserate was still rebounded although it did not reach the estimated 2%. Combined with the development of global hydropower resources, the potential of global hydropower development was analyzed. The results show that Asia, South America, Africa, and North America have great development potential. China, Brazil, Russia, Canada, and the United States are among the best in overall hydropower potential. Bhutan, Iceland, Papua New Zealand Guinea, Guyana, and Gabon have relatively large hydropower potential per capita.