Single-atom　catalysts　(SACs)　have　been　extensively　studied　for　their　maximized　atom　availability,　excellent　catalytic　activity,　and　high　selectivity.　With　the　surging　research　on　SACs,　the　potential　candidates　of　central　atom　sites　have　expanded　beyond　the　well-studied　transition　metal　elements.　Among　them,　the　emerging　SACs　based　on　the　main　group　elements　and　lanthanide　families　possess　unique　electronic　energy　levels　that　significantly　differ　from　the　d-band　electronic　structures　in　transition　metal-based　SACs.　These　advantages　enable　them　to　exhibit　significant　potential　in　catalysing　specific　reactions　and　improving　our　understanding　of　reaction　mechanisms　in　single-atom　catalysis.　This　review　provides　a　comprehensive　overview　of　the　latest　advances　in　SACs　based　on　the　main　group　elements　and　lanthanide　series　metals,　focusing　on　their　synthetic　strategies,　the　inherent　single-atomic　site-support　interactions,　and　their　applications　in　various　catalytic　reactions.　Finally,　future　research　perspectives　and　challenges　regarding　the　way　forward　for　main　group　elements　and　lanthanide　series-based　SACs　have　been　outlined.　©　2024　Elsevier　Ltd