Abstract: Niobium （Nb）, as a critical metal for high-strength low-alloy steel （HSLA） and superalloys, plays an irreplaceable role in strategic sectors such as national defense, aerospace, and nuclear industries. China’s Nb resources are characterized by insufficient self-sufficiency, with a long-term external dependency exceeding 95%. Therefore, enhancing fundamental research on Nb metallogeny and advancing technologies for resource utilization, by furnishing essential theoretical and technological support for exploration and comprehensive utilization, represents a pivotal pathway to mitigating China’s Nb resource shortage. This study analyzes 864 publications from the Scopus database （2000-2024） using bibliometric methods and CiteSpace visualization technology, systematically examining publication volume, national/institutional contributions, author collaboration networks, research hotspots, and trends. Over the past 25 years, key findings include Chinese scholars ranked first globally in publication volume （504 papers, 58%）, yet international collaborative papers constituted less than 10%, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced cooperation. Carbonatite-related Nb deposits dominate global reserves （92%）, but their research output （159 papers） is only 18% of that for Nb deposits, indicating gaps in metallogenic mechanisms and resource evaluation frameworks. The research hotspots focus on four domains: deposit types （e.g., carbonatite-type, pegmatite-type）, studies of representative deposits （e.g., Bayan Obo）, mineralization, and Nb-bearing mineralogy. However, a clear understanding of the Nb-REE enrichment-partitioning mechanisms and the development of efficient extraction technology for fine-grained Nb-bearing minerals still await breakthroughs. Notably, systematic assessments of Nb potential remain lacking for most identified carbonatite bodies in China. Based on these findings, it is recommended to deepen research on the occurrence states and enrichment mechanisms of Nb during carbonatite magma-hydrothermal evolution, strengthen the identification of prospective areas for weathered crust-type Nb deposits related to carbonatite, and promote synergistic research between Nb-bearing mineral crystallochemistry and metallurgical processes to overcome technological bottlenecks in the recovery of fine-grained Nb resources. These efforts will collectively enhance China’s capabilities in securing Nb resource supply.