In order to evaluate and analyze performance of spaceborne oceanographic lidar for global ocean optical properties detection, a simulation system for spaceborne oceanographic lidar was developed based on lidar equation and the results of Monte Carlo simulation model. The lidar simulation system consisted of three modules, forward simulation, data inversion and error analysis, which could simulate the whole process of laser emission, transmission and detection. According to the given lidar parameters, the detection signals of 443 nm, 486.1 nm and 532 nm in four typical areas, Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean and Pacific Ocean, were simulated. The results show that the detection depths of 443 nm and 486 nm are approximately the same and deeper than that of 532 nm. For the given lidar parameters, the detection depths of 486.1 nm wavelength in the Pacific Ocean and the Southern Ocean are 120 m and 70 m, respectively, and the detection depth in the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean is about 100 m. The detection depths of chlorophyll-a concentration in the above sea areas are about 80 m, 50 m and 70 m, respectively.