The　ubiquitous　occurrence　of　steroid　estrogens　(SEs)　in　the　aquatic　environment　has　raised　global　concern　for　their　potential　environmental　impacts.　This　paper　extensively　compiled　and　reviewed　the　available　occurrence　data　of　SEs,　namely　estrone　(E1),　17　alpha-estradiol　(17　alpha-E2),　17　beta-estradiol　(17　beta-E2),　estriol　(E3),　and　17　alpha-ethinyl　estradiol　(EE2),　based　on　145　published　articles　in　different　regions　all　over　the　world　including　51　countries　and　regions　during　January　2015-March　2020.　The　data　regarding　SEs　concentrations　and　estimated　17　beta-estradiol　equivalency　(EEQ)　values　are　then　compared　and　analyzed　in　different　environmental　matrices,　including　natural　water　body,　drinking　and　tap　water,　and　wastewater　treatment　plants　(WWTPs)　effluent.　The　detection　frequencies　of　E1,　17　beta-E2,　and　E3　between　the　ranges　of　53%-83%　in　natural　water　and　WWTPs　effluent,　and　the　concentration　of　SEs　varied　considerably　in　different　countries　and　regions.　The　applicability　for　EEQ　estimation　via　multiplying　relative　effect　potency　(REPi)　by　chemical　analytical　data,　as　well　as　correlation　between　EEQ(bio)　and　EEQ(cal)　was　also　discussed.　The　risk　quotient　(RQ)　values　were　on　the　descending　order　of　EE2　＞　17　beta-E2　＞　E1　＞　17　alpha-E2　＞　E3　in　the　great　majority　of　investigations.　Furthermore,　E1,　17　beta-E2,　and　EE2　exhibited　high　or　medium　risks　in　water　environmental　samples　via　optimized　risk　quotient　(RQ(f))　approach　at　the　continental-scale.　This　overview　provides　the　latest　insights　on　the　global　occurrence　and　ecological　impacts　of　SEs　and　may　act　as　a　supportive　tool　for　future　SEs　investigation　and　monitoring.　(C)　2020　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.