Ghost imaging lidar is a computational imaging technology that obtains the target’s information by actively modulating the fluctuation of light field and receiving the target’s echo signal with a single pixel detector in the condition of staring detection. It has important application prospects in the fields of long-distance target recognition, three-dimensional imaging and the defense of important place, and has become a research hotspot in recent years. The basic principles and characteristics of the two kinds of ghost imaging lidar based on narrow pulse direct detection system and long pulse heterodyne detection system respectively are briefly reviewed, and their recent main research progress are introduced. Furthermore, with respect to the application of long-distance, high-resolution and high-speed moving target detection and recognition, the key problems and development trend of ghost imaging lidar are discussed and prospected.