Abstract: With the continuous improvement of modern mechanical design theory and demand for safe operation of products, higher requirements are put forward for the structural reliability index, which promotes the development of probabilistic fatigue life analysis method. In the process of probabilistic fatigue life assessment of mechanical structures, the statistical analysis of structural fatigue process driving parameters and probabilistic fatigue life distribution, with various uncertain factors fully considered, is a hot issue in the cross-field of probabilistic statistics and computational mechanics for complex structures. The purpose of the study is to systematically explain the development history and basic analysis process of probabilistic fatigue life assessment, and analyze the relevant probability analysis theory, method, model, development status and bottleneck. Three main contents, the uncertainty sources of probabilistic fatigue problems, the characterization of fatigue process-driven parameters and the construction and application of life assessment model, are presented. Finally, while the latest research results in this field are summarized and sorted out, the future development trend and key issues of probabilistic fatigue life assessment are prospected.