Soil C:N:P stoichiometry, which could reflect the quality and quantity of soil organic matter, is very important for understanding the ecological processes and ecosystem responses to climate change and disturbance. However, the temporal- spatial pattern of soil C:N:P stoichiometry and its potential driving factors are not yet known. In order to identify such patterns and driving factors, we mainly reviewed the variation patterns and relative driving factors of soil C:N:P stoichiometric ratios along soil depth, elevation, latitude, and succession gradient. Both soil N:P and C:P ratios significantly declined with increasing soil depth, whereas the vertical pattern of soil C:N ratio was controversial. The relationship between soil C:N ratio and elevation was complicated and not in a simple linear form. Soil C:N ratio increased, but soil C:P ratio decreased with increasing latitude at global and regional scales. Inconsistent patterns of soil C:N:P stoichiometry were noted with succession dynamics owing to the fact that current succession studies included various time sequence ranges and site characteristics. We concluded that (1) the number of studies on soil C:N ratio are more than those on soil N:P and C:P ratios; (2) the temporal- spatial pattern of soil C:N:P stoichiometric ratios are yet unknown; and (3) how influencing factors such as climate, soil types, vegetation, and environmental disturbances regulate the temporal-spatial pattern of soil stoichiometric ratios is yet unknown. Finally, we suggest that further studies that combine the ecological stoichiometry in plant and litter with soil and should focus on the controlling mechanism of soil C:N:P stoichiometry patterns and their relations to structural and functional dynamics in ecosystems.