Objective Through bibliometric analysis of relevant English literature on death education, this study aims to reveal research hotspots and development directions.Methods The data source consisted of death education-related literature indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection self-built database from its inception to June 2023. CiteSpace 5.8.3R3 software was utilized for bibliometric analysis to evaluate characteristics in terms of authors, countries and institutions, journals, keywords, and other indicators.Results A total of 438 relevant articles were retrieved, indicating a continuous growth trend in death education-related research. The United States published the highest number of articles. In terms of keyword frequency, the global death education field primarily focuses on medical students, nursing, healthcare professionals, and cancer patients as the main research subjects, gradually expanding to include the general public in recent years. Targeted and diversified educational methods are the hotspots in future research in this field.Conclusion Death education-related research remains a hotspot topic in recent years. In the future, efforts can be made to strengthen cooperation across countries, regions, institutions, and disciplines, learn from each other, conduct localized death education research, and collectively contribute to the formation of a positive view of death among the public, achieving the goal of "facing life and death, and blossoming like spring flowers."