Low-calcium clinker minerals (i.e., ye'elimite, belite and ternesite) have lower calcium content, reduced firing temperature, and decreased CO2 emission, compared to alite. The development of clinkers primarily composed of these low-calcium minerals represents a significant direction for the sustainable, low-carbon evolution of cementitious materials. This review represented the hydration and performance development of ye’elimite, belite and ternesite, the hydration and performance development of calcium sulfoaluminate cement and belite-ye’elimite-ferrite cement, as well as the preparation, hydration and performance optimization of belite-ye’elimite-ternesite, respectively, with both low-calcium minerals as major minerals. Meanwhile, the effect of gypsum on the low-calcium cement was discussed due to its crucial influence in the hydration of cement clinker. This review could provide a reference for the synthesis of low-calcium clinkers primarily using ye'elimite, belite and ternesite.