This paper mainly recounts the state of the research and exploitation of geothermal energy in the world since 1990, especially the information related to the International Geotherm Conference held in Italy in 1995 and the International HDR Conference held in Japan in 1997, and gives a summarized description of the advances in the research and exploitation of geothermal resources in the past ten years. It is the authors' hope that the understanding of the present state of the geothermal research and exploitation in the world can stimulate the further rational exploitation and utilization of geothermal resources in China.