Using CiteSpace visual analysis software, based on 1125 journal articles related to eco-efficiency in the CNKI database from 2001 to 2021, visual analysis of author institution co-citation, keyword co-occurrence and clustering are carried out to grasp the current research status of eco-efficiency, Dynamic hotspots and frontier trends are analyzed. The results show that: Eco-efficiency research is currently in a stage of rapid development, and researchers and institutions play a key role in it, but the degree of linkage between authors and institutions is not strong; there are many research directions on eco-efficiency, how to evaluate eco-efficiency and its impact on regions, industries, etc. Eco-efficiency research from a meso-level perspective is a hot topic; eco-efficiency research around the Yangtze River Economic Zone is the current frontier issue. Research prospects: Strengthen the exchange and cooperation of authors and institutions between regions; attach importance to the study of micro-individual eco-efficiency; promote the practical application of eco-efficiency research.