Abstract: Helium is a non-renewable and scarce strategic resource, so investigations into its reservoir characteristics, resource distribution and extraction technologies hold profound academic value and practical engineering significance. Owing to its unique cryogenic physical properties, helium serves as an irreplaceable foundational support in cutting-edge high-tech fields including aerospace engineering, semiconductor fabrication, superconducting technology, and medical imaging. This paper reviews the basic properties and resource value of helium, with an in-depth analysis of the distribution, reserve structure and supply-demand status quo of global helium resources. Based on the evolution and technological breakthroughs of the global helium industry, this study further explores the critical bottlenecks confronting the current industry that demand urgent solutions, such as the continuously expanding supply-demand gap, and high energy consumption associated with helium extraction from low-abundance gas reservoirs. In light of the irreplaceability and strategic importance of helium resources, future development directions are proposed, including ramping up exploitation of low-content resources, expanding helium recovery and recycling technologies, strengthening geological exploration of new resources, and establishing a strategic helium reserve system. This work is anticipated to provide theoretical and practical guidance for sustaining the development of scientific research and high-tech industries worldwide.