<p>Although life satisfaction is a core construct within positive psychology and a widely used indicator of human well-being, research in this area has expanded rapidly and become increasingly fragmented across theoretical perspectives, methodological approaches, and application domains. Despite this growth, no dedicated bibliometric study has systematically mapped the intellectual structure and emerging research directions of life satisfaction research explicitly situated within positive psychology. To address this gap, the present study provides a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to identify current research trends, foundational knowledge structures, and future thematic trajectories. A total of 968 English-language publications indexed in the Web of Science Core Collection from 2000 to December 31, 2025, were analyzed using a science-mapping approach. Two complementary bibliometric techniques were employed: bibliographic coupling to examine the field’s contemporary intellectual structure, and co-word analysis to identify emerging themes and future research directions. Descriptive bibliometric indicators were first used to characterize publication growth and citation patterns, followed by network-based analyses calibrated through threshold testing to ensure robust and interpretable results. The bibliographic coupling analysis revealed four major intellectual clusters: (1) positive psychological interventions and psychosocial resources, (2) conceptual foundations and multidimensional models of well-being, (3) life satisfaction and well-being in children and adolescents, and (4) societal, organizational, and critical perspectives on subjective well-being. The co-word analysis identified four forward-looking thematic clusters: integrative foundations of psychological functioning; psychosocial resources and stress regulation; measurement and validation in youth mental health and education; and intervention-based approaches targeting both well-being enhancement and symptom reduction. Overall, the findings indicate a shift from static, outcome-oriented conceptualizations of life satisfaction toward dynamic, multilevel, and mechanism-focused models embedded within broader psychological, developmental, and contextual systems. By clarifying the intellectual organization and emerging directions of life satisfaction research within positive psychology, this study provides a structured foundation for future theory development, methodological refinement, and evidence-based intervention and policy design.</p>