The objective of this paper is to explore current global trends in shadow education (SE) research. This study focuses on four key dimensions: annual publication trends, geographical distribution, research methodologies and industrial involvement from 2019 to 2025. Shadow education is increasingly recognized not only for its role in enhancing students’ academic achievement but also for its contribution to the growth and sustainability of the private education sector. Through a thematic analysis of 158 peer-reviewed articles, this review identifies that research on SE remains relatively limited. Geographically, China, Hong Kong, and South Korea dominate the landscape of SE research. Methodologically, qualitative approaches have been the most frequently employed over the past 7 years, surpassing both quantitative and mixed-method designs. Thematic findings reveal that SE research largely centers around five key elements: individual factors, family and social influences, educational outcomes and roles, economic and business dimensions and communication, technology, and policy. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of SE research and highlights four major gaps temporal, geographical, methodological, and industrial by offering valuable direction for future studies in this evolving field.