This study explores the development and trends in the field of Psychological Well-being (PWB) through a bibliometric analysis of 16,885 academic studies published in the Web of Science database from 1980 to 2022. The research reveals a continuous increase in publications and citations, with a notable surge after 2016. The United States accounts for over a third of the publications, and *International Journal of Environment Research and Public Health* and *Frontiers in Psychology* are the most productive journals. Carol D. Ryff is the most prolific and cited author in the field. The analysis identifies key themes and keywords over the past 10 years, showing a shift from social support to mindfulness, loneliness, and support due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Motivation and rehabilitation have also emerged as significant focal points. The study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive overview of the distribution of publications and citations, the most influential sources and authors, and the most prominent themes and keywords in the field of PWB.This study explores the development and trends in the field of Psychological Well-being (PWB) through a bibliometric analysis of 16,885 academic studies published in the Web of Science database from 1980 to 2022. The research reveals a continuous increase in publications and citations, with a notable surge after 2016. The United States accounts for over a third of the publications, and *International Journal of Environment Research and Public Health* and *Frontiers in Psychology* are the most productive journals. Carol D. Ryff is the most prolific and cited author in the field. The analysis identifies key themes and keywords over the past 10 years, showing a shift from social support to mindfulness, loneliness, and support due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Motivation and rehabilitation have also emerged as significant focal points. The study contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive overview of the distribution of publications and citations, the most influential sources and authors, and the most prominent themes and keywords in the field of PWB.