Water, energy, and carbon (WEC) form the three core pillars of sustainable development, characterized by intricate feedback relationships among them. Systematically reviewing research progress helps clarify the evolutionary trajectory of WEC, discern complex interdependencies, and provide theoretical references for multi-objective sustainable development. In recent years, the complex WEC relationships have garnered increasing attention from scholars worldwide. This study reviews relevant literature from 2010 to 2024, employing the Citespace visualization software to conduct quantitative research on publication trends, research hotspots, and frontiers. It also qualitatively summarizes research content, current status, and existing issues, distilling insights for future development. The findings reveal: (1) In quantitative research, publication trends exhibit three phases: “emergence-exploration-development.” Research hotspots and frontiers show distinct international and domestic focuses: international studies emphasize mechanisms and methodologies, while domestic research prioritizes policy implementation studies in conflict-prone regions as typical case studies. (2) Qualitative analysis reveals existing research primarily covers natural-social systems, temporal-spatial dimensions, macro-micro scales, and internal-external levels. Comprehensive studies across multiple systems, dimensions, scales, and levels aim to uncover complex relational mechanisms, decipher dynamic spatio-temporal patterns, and analyze cross-scale interactions and hierarchical interplay. (3) Reviewing progress in WEC complex relationship research reveals an urgent need to strengthen mechanism studies. Integrating multidisciplinary approaches to establish quantitative assessment systems and holistic regulatory frameworks is essential to support the achievement of multi-objective coordinated development.