Abstract: Achievements of spatial poverty on the international scale have been becoming richer and richer since 1990s，and gradually becoming the important basis for western developed countries and relevant international organizations to formulate policies on regional poverty alleviation，extending and broadening the research about the geography of poverty of the world on the width and depth greatly. Based on the detailed statement about concept，index system and research methods of spatial poverty，influencing factors and spatial characteristics of spatial poverty，poverty mapping and poverty maps，poverty policy evaluation and design and so on were discussed. Furthermore，domestic status quo and deficiencies of the research about the geography of poverty were analyzed，and suggestions such as geographic capital of spatial poverty，mechanism of spatial poverty trap，development of spatial poverty maps and so on were brought forward to enrich the theories and method systems in China，which would have scientific，theoretical and academic significance for enriching the study of social geography；what is more，it also has significance of decision-making and practical promotion for the sustainability of poverty reduction and building harmonious society.

Key words: spatial poverty, geographic capital, spatial poverty traps, poverty maps or poverty mapping, geography of poverty