The Sustainable Livelihoods (SLs) is a significant subject and concept within the sustainable development research and it also has the potential to deal with the fundamental challenge in terms of inequalities between inter-generation and intra-generation, now and in the future. This paper adopted bibliometrics to conduct the quantitative analysis of the development, hot topics, and collaboration network in terms of SLs researches. Moreover, the analyzed parameters included publication output, distribution of publications by authors and organizations, subject classification of publication, etc. Some 809 papers were analyzed on various aspects of publication, and the results show that publication output has increased promptly over the past two decades; however, the cooperation network among different organizations and authors on the topic of SLs has not been closely linked. The hot topics of SLs involve three categories, which are ①theoretical research in terms of sustainable livelihoods; ②the research on livelihood strategy (problem-orientated); ③the research of ecological vulnerability. It is important for Chinese scholars to continue the future SLs researches in accordance with the strategy of target poverty alleviation and rural revitalization. Additionally, it is also vital to broaden the theoretical horizons by transitioning from the research on agricultural economy to the exploration of relationship of SLs-ecological environment, SLs-biodiversity, SLs-climate change and adaptation, SLs-human capital development, etc.; to strengthen the academic cooperation and exchanges; to innovate research approach; to improve both quantity and quality of research output for the purpose of providing long-term and scientific decision for the decision makers.