The research background and conceptual framework of ecological drought were analyzed, and the research progress including ecological drought monitoring index, driving mechanisms of meteorological elements and groundwater to ecological drought, and vulnerability assessment method of ecological drought were systematically reviewed. It is pointed out that the research of ecological drought is still in its infancy. Further research should be carried out on the construction and assessment methods of ecological drought index, the joint driving mechanism of meteorological drought and groundwater drought on ecological drought, and the vulnerability assessment and prediction methods of ecological drought, so as to promote the development of ecological drought research and expand the theoretical system of drought classification and drought index research