Mangrove ecosystems play a vital role in providing habitat for numerous plant and animal species, protecting coastlines from erosion and storm damage, and supporting coastal communities with natural resources. Several studies have been conducted on heavy metals due to advancements in technology, which have improved the accuracy in detecting, identifying, and quantifying the metals. However, our understanding on the distribution, sources, and impacts of heavy metals on mangrove ecosystem health and productivity is currently scattered and unorganized. This review aims to bridge knowledge gaps, inform conservation strategies, and promote interdisciplinary collaboration by synthesizing ecological, socio-economic, and policy-related insights. We reviewed 139 publications from 2003 to 2024 across 20 countries, sourced from four databases (Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and EBSCO) and one search engine (Google Scholar). The results revealed a rapid increase in publications on this topic globally, particularly during the period between 2010 and 2023. China (29%) and India (22%) emerged as the leading contributors to research on mangrove heavy metal contamination. The most frequently studied heavy metals were Cadmium followed by Lead, Copper, Zinc and Chromium. The major sources of heavy metals contamination in mangrove ecosystems were industrial effluents (36 %) and rapid land-use conversion (31 %) and sediments (51 %) were the most commonly investigated component of mangrove ecosystem. Heavy metals have negative effects on human health (44 %) and reduce mangroves growth and development (25 %). Future studies should prioritize investigating the interactions among heavy metals contamination, and mangrove productivity and health, as well as the resilience of associated species over time.