Started with needs of the national marine strategy, the necessity of China’s oceanographic lidar developing was analyzed, the characteristics and domestic overseas’ development of the oceanographic lidar were summarized; the oceanographic lidar current construction and planning at home and abroad and the launched spaceborne lidar’s situation were analyzed, the future spaceborne ocean lidar’s development direction was put forward and on-orbit data application product was expected, the key technology of the spaceborne ocean lidar was discussed, the application prospect of developing the oceanographic lidar during the 14th five year plan oceanographic was given.