BACKGROUND: Extensive research has been carried out on physical literacy (PL) over the past decades. Nonetheless, no comprehensive bibliometric analysis of relevant publications has been performed. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive bibliometric review of studies on PL to track research trends and highlight current research hotspots. METHODS: The Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database was selected to retrieve publications from inception to 2024 on PL. Articles and reviews written in English with PL as the main topic were included. VOSviewer and CiteSpace software were used to perform analysis and visualization of scientific productivity and emerging trends. RESULTS: A total of 710 publications were retrieved. Canada dominated this field with the most publications (188). The institution and author with the largest number of articles were The Chinese University of Hong Kong (46 publications) and Cairney John (35 publications), respectively. BMC Public Health was the most influential journal with 41 articles and 1214 citations. Publications were primarily distributed across journals in sports science, education, public health, and other allied disciplines. Five topics were identified by reference co-citation analysis and keyword analysis: the definition of PL, PL in education, the association of PL, the intervention of PL, and the measurement and assessment of PL. The measurement, assessment and intervention of PL may become the frontiers. CONCLUSION: PL research has witnessed growing scholarly interest over the past 18 years. The concept of PL lacks consensus, and the necessity of establishing a unified conceptualization remains contentious. Most existing PL measurement tools lack comprehensiveness in capturing conceptual components, highlighting the need for established instruments aligned with its theoretical foundations. PL interventions vary in design and effectiveness, making it essential to identify effective strategies. Furthermore, multidisciplinary collaboration is imperative. This study could offer strategic guidance for identifying potential collaborators and prioritizing research priorities.